“…film that explores the life and work of the legendary neurologist and storyteller as he shares intimate details of his battles with drug addiction, homophobia and a medical establishment that embraced his work only decades after the fact… Sacks, known for his literary works AwakeningsLinks to an external site. and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a HatLinks to an external site., was a fearless explorer of unknown cognitive worlds who helped redefine our understanding of the brain and mind, the diversity of human experience, and our shared humanity…
“From the start, this project has been one of the most moving and revelatory I’ve ever had the privilege of being involved with,” said director Ric Burns. “From the moment my colleagues and I walked into his apartment on Horatio Street in New York in February 2015, it was clear that virtually every issue of importance about what it means to live a life and to be a human being was concentrated in his unusual life story: survival, beauty, art, science, storytelling, love, individuality, difference, dignity, autonomy, agency, wonder, language, meaning, consciousness, community, friendship, yearning, loss, connection with something larger.” kpbsLinks to an external site.
For extra credit:
(1) View the film (viewable free if you have PBS Passport,Links to an external site. or to rent from other sourcesLinks to an external site.)
(2) For the write-up, in 4+ typed pages, briefly describe your reactions to the show and what you learned.
(3) Submit your write up via the Extra Credit link no later than Week 13 of the semester.