If you love Alfred Hitchcock movies, then you will find the interview with David Sterritt, new on the Simply Charly Interviews site, absolutely fascinating. David Sterritt is currently Chair of the National Society of Film Critics, as well as an Adjunct Professor at the School of the Arts at Columbia University. He has written many books and penned many film reviews and his knowledge of Hitchcock and what drove him to do the things that he does is well-researched and thought-provoking.

During the interview, David Sterritt points out many interesting facts about Hitchcock and his movies. In response to the question of why Hitchcock always appeared in his own movies, David had this to say:

“Hitchcock was a first-rate promoter and marketer, and one of his best tools was to make himself a celebrity by showing up in all sorts of ways…”

David also intimates why Hitchcock movies were different from others of the same genre:

“He took crime and violence out of the shadows and into the light of day, showing that mayhem doesn’t break out only in dark alleys and dens of iniquity…”

In the interview, David also lists contemporary directors who have been influenced by Hitchcock’s vision and techniques:

“The world champion of Hitchcock imitators is Brian De Palma…David Lynch was obviously influenced by Hitch in pictures like Mulholland Dr. and Blue Velvet, and Gus Van Sant paid Psycho a compliment by directing a faithful (and pointless) shot-for-shot remake.”

Click on the link above to read more of this insightful interview with David Sterritt…you will definitely feel the love and admiration he has for Hitchcock films, and may even be prompted to go out and rent one to see what the chatter is all about!

Happy learning!

Mr. Philip M. Parker, a chaired professor of management science, has developed a unique way of writing books. An article in the New York Times examines his unconventional method of compiling the “meat” of a book by using his developed algorithms to collect publicly available information on a subject. Mr. Parker then, with the assistance of 60-70 computers (!) and six or seven computer programmers, compiles the results into books, producing a product that runs the gamut of genres and usually is about 150 pages long. Some of the titles he has written include “The Official Patient’s Sourcebook on Acne Rosacea,” “Stickler Syndrome: A Bibliography and Dictionary for Physician’s, Patients and Genome Researchers,” and “The 2007–2012 Outlook for Tufted Washable Scatter Rugs, Bathmats and Sets That Measure 6-Feet by 9-Feet or Smaller in India.”

Mr. Parker has generated over 200,000 books, and each book is only printed when a customer places an order. Although the above books may sound like generic topics, Mr. Parker has applied his theory to crossword puzzles and even scripts for animated game shows. Most of his books are full of graphics, and there have been complaints at the level of generic information given in the content. But Mr. Parker takes on an attitude that if you are not Internet savvy and need a guide to read, his books provide a basic understanding of the topics that he covers and can be useful.

Many authors would call what Mr. Parker does as cheating, but he doesn’t think so. He compares his methods to a traditional publisher, only with his computers doing the scut work.

“Using a little bit of artificial intelligence, a computer program has been created that mimics the thought process of someone who would be responsible for doing such a study,” Mr. Parker says. “But rather than taking many months to do the study, the computer accomplishes this in about 13 minutes.”

Mr. Parker is now venturing into other avenues, including acrostic poetry. He has a love for words and dictionaries in all languages, and a foray into romance novels is in the works also.

It is quite amazing what technology can do!

Happy learning!

An article published recently in the Wall Street Journal uncovers a mystery: Finnish students score “extraordinarily high” on an international test and are among the smartest in the world. This mystery has American educators taking note, and attempting to figure out what Finnish educators are doing and how to adapt.

The international tests, known as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), are sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and are given every three years to 15-year-old students in 57 different countries. In the most recent test, Finland students place first in science (the test’s focus), and near the top in math and reading.

So what makes Finnish students so smart? The answer is a simple one: Finland’s educators are well-trained and the children are responsible. Finland has a system of “comprehensive” schooling—free public education for all children from 1^st to 9^th grade. All of these students, no matter their academic abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds, sit in the same rooms. According to an article in U. S. News & World Report, this environment “focuses on equity for all.”

Students in Finland begin primary school the year they turn 7, in a small classroom (usually 20-25 students). There are not the usual concerns during the school day in Finland; lunches are free, schools have flexibility in choosing textbooks, designing curricula, and allocating funds, and healthcare and transportation are taken care of. All of these offer students support in their learning process.

But the most critical element in this equation may the teachers. Since 1970, Finland has mandated that teachers for all grades obtain at least a master’s degree. Teachers enjoy high prestige in Finland, the teacher-education programs at Finnish universities are highly competitive, and according to Jouni Valijarvi, director of the Institute for Educational Research at the University of Jyvaskyla, “The status of teachers is comparable to doctors and lawyers.”

Focusing on students, designing a curriculum that challenges students, eliminating distractions, requiring teachers to succeed, and rewarding them for doing so? Sounds like a foundation for success…

Happy learning!

Simply Charly continues to grow! We’ve added lots of new features and sites and wanted to point you to some of these new interesting features!

Have you visited the Simply Charly Interviews site? Here, esteemed scholars share their views on the historical icons found on Simply Charly. Colin McGinn, distinguished professor of philosophy at the University of Miami, dissects the philosophy of Shakespeare’s plays; Dr. Tamas Pataki, Honorary Senior Fellow in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne, Australia, analyzes the psyche of Sigmund Freud; and Dr. Michio Kaku, professor of theoretical physics at the City University of New York, explains Einstein’s genius. There are many other profound and engaging reads on the Interviews site; click the link and have a read.

If you are looking for a good discussion, join the Simply Charly Wiki board. Here the topics range, and you are free to express your opinions on the arts and historical figures, among other things. You can also post questions and get answers from experts here…it’s a great way to do research!

Of course, there are always the Simply Charly sites highlighting the historical icons. From Simply Chaplin to Simply Einstein, these sites offer insight and information on your favorite icons. New sites are added all the time, with Simply Fellini just being added and Simply Darwin coming soon. Check back often to see the changes happen!

Stop by the Simply Charly store to purchase items to wear and/or display your favorite icon. And as always, don’t forget to take the Simply Charly poll (found on every page) and sign up for the Simply Charly e-newsletter.

Happy learning!