Discourse in a Digital Age discussion

Let's talk about Hidden Figures. We had a good time seeing the film way back in January (despite some rather... liberal viewpoints relating to library books). The movie has the same problems as any biopic, except magnified because you're dealing with more people. You need to summarize the lives and achievements of your main characters while providing a compelling through-line to your film. Reality inevitably falls by the wayside. That doesn't even take into account that Shetterly wanted to bring attention to all of these women, and not just 3 of them.

We have plenty of time to go into detail about what the movie got wrong, but what did you think of the book?

Still reading - about 1/2 thru and enjoying it. Loving the attention author pays to the Langley labs in WW2, local & national (lack of) racial progress and actions towards civil rights and the stories of so many more black (and some white) women than the movie covered. Her jumping back and forth in time as she takes up another person's story is a little awkward, and my eyes glaze over during long passages of exposition on aeronautics/engineering research. But as always with a bk/movie situation, better to have read the book first, for the extra richness of detail & perspective.

I'm enjoying the books, also. The added detail compared to the movie is really good. It's always that way with books turned into movies, I guess.

It occurs to me that (of course) Hollywood gave Katherine Johnson the nerd treatment. She was a charming, charismatic woman, as written by Shetterly. She was given a job as a hotel clerk, for instance. Meanwhile, her film counterpart was a soft-spoken bookworm who was painfully awkward.

It really upsets me when Hollywood pushes those stereotypes. I'm surprised I didn't realize it sooner.

I saw the movie (did we go as a group?), but still can't picture Taraji Henson playing anyone painfully shy or awkward. Some of her own personality must've bled through whatever stereotypical nerd mathematician the director was going for.
Finished the bk last weekend, and my only real complaint is that it tends towards hagiography, if that's the correct word. Lots to discuss.

I think that’s the right word but they’re pretty great people so I’m ok with it. I read the book earlier this year so rewatched the movie for our discussion. My team at work is also doing a movie club and a Hidden Figures was chosen for that too fortuitously!

I’m bringing cheese and crackers and salami and probably something sweet.