Watch programs 1 & 2 of Ken Burns’ video series The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. After viewing four hours of Burns, write an essay evaluating what he has presented. How do the films compare with Alfred Runte’s book National Parks: The American Experience? Did you learn anything new? What are Burns’ bias and how does he convey them? What part, if any, of the series affected you deeply and personally? Is film mainly entertainment? Compared to writing as in Sax and Runte, is film a valid way to learn about the past? How would you verify or refute what Burns has presented?
