Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

Finished showing "Contact" to my three astronomy classes today. Next time I'll give them backgrounders on Carl Sagan, Arecibo, VLA, SETI, Occam's Razor, wormholes and the Einstein-Rosen Bridge before the film viewing, to enhance their understanding of the movie. This is because I don't believe in stopping the film just to explain some points that have just been depicted. I want the filmmaker's message given as intended.

I can replay parts of the movie for emphasis, but that is best accomplished with a DVD player, which we don't yet have. Otherwise, it's a waste of time during class to keep rewinding.

I also gave them websites that can give them insights into some of the facets involved behind the scenes of the movie, including but not limited to how the special effects were achieved.

For now though they'll have to research those on their own if they want to supplement their reaction paper that is due on Monday.

Today's final writing exercise also did not require them to pay attention to anything but the climactic part of the movie. The questions were completely subjective and could be answered after the film had ended.

1. Studying in a catholic university, did the fact that the protagonist of the movie is an atheist prevent you from sympathizing with her? Why or why not?

2. Does the movie portray for you a valid picture of how contact with an alien civilization? If not, is there any other movie that shows a more believable meeting with aliens for you?

3. Several characters in the film showed different reactions to the message: defensive skepticism, religious firmness, and whole-hearted support, with some in between. Which character in the movie best mirrors your reaction if you received the news about the message and its contents?

4. Do you believe aliens exist? Did the movie change or reinforce your belief? Expound.

5. The aliens said they took the form of a person and place that Ellie was most comfortable with to make her more receptive to their message. If you were sent in the Machine, who would you meet and where?

6. Speculate on what would have happened if they sent someone else in the Machine.

As a counterpoint to the movie's interpretation of how extraterrestrial communication works, I'll post something tomorrow about how "that's the way it's always been done around here."

For now I end with the theistically ambiguous speech in end of the movie.

"I had an experience. I can't prove it. I can't even explain it, but everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am tells me that it was real.
I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever. A vision of the universe that tells us, undeniably, how tiny and insignificant, and how rare and precious we all are. A vision that tells us that we belong to something that is greater than ourselves, that we are not -- that none of us are -- alone. I wish I could share that. I wish that everyone, if even for one moment, could feel that awe and humility, and hope, but... that continues to be my wish."