Humanities Film Clips Research
After students have had a chance to complete their research, they will apply what they have learned by analyzing clips from the film After Tiller.
Assessment
Students will watch the below clips (choose four) and write summaries of their research. Each summary should include an analysis on how it relates to morality.
Film Clips
Clip 2:Consequences of Making Abortion Illegal (01:11 min.)
The clip begins at 17:59 as Dr. Warren Hern says, “When I was in medical school, I loved delivering babies.” It ends at 19:10 with him saying, “So, I’ve looked at this from the beginning as a public health issue.”
Explains why Dr. Hern chose to offer abortion services and includes descriptions of what can happen when abortion is illegal or unavailable, including stories of women who injured themselves when they tried to terminate their own pregnancies and children who were abused because they were unwanted.
Clip 4: Serena’s Story (02:46 min.)
The clip begins at 57:52, as Dr. Sella asks, “So, Serena tell me, when did you realize you were pregnant?” It ends at 1:00:38, as Dr. Sella finishes her conversation with Serena.
Recounts the story of a young woman who is having a tough time supporting and raising the children she already has. Includes references to the cost of abortion, the potential impact on the child of substance abuse and lack of prenatal care, the role of family support and dealing with concerns about being judged.
Clip 6: Women Are the Experts on Their Own Lives (5:30 min.)
The clip begins at 1:05:45 with Dr. Susan Robinson talking with her staffer about counseling a patient as the staffer says, “She called last week.” It ends at 1:11:15 with Dr. Robinson saying, “I think that’s the— really the only reason that it’s fair to turn a patient down.”
Includes the story of a Catholic woman who has chosen abortion even though she feels guilty because it goes against her faith. It also includes the doctor’s perspective in terms of struggling with the decision about when it is right to refuse to perform a procedure that a woman is requesting.
Clip 7: How Far Does the Right to Protest Go? (5:29 min.)
The clip opens at 1:12:49 with women chanting, “Hey-hey! Ho-ho! Roe v. Wade has got to go!” It ends at 1:18:18 with Todd Stave saying, “I needed to fight back.”
Shows protestors at the middle school of Todd Stave’s daughter. Stave is a landlord who rents space to Dr. Carhart, an abortion provider. The segment questions whether or not targeting someone’s child is a reasonable and protected form of protest or undue intimidation.