Davina Pardo's documentary Minka asks viewers to consider that value of preserving traditional dwellings and traditional building techniques by examining how American journalist John Roderick and Japanese architect Yoshihiro Takishita reconstructed a traditional Japanese farm house.

Concepts

architecture, japanese culture, japanese art, historic preservation

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Have groups research other cultural traditions involving building and preserving dwellings such as the US Trust for Historic Preservation and Ireland's Architectural Heritage Society and events like Amish barn raising

Classroom Considerations

• A link to the film is provided in the Included materials section of this review
• The video begins with an advertisement

Pros

• The four-page packet includes background information about the film, discussion questions, and writing prompts

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.11-12.1.c