In Search of the Edge

This short film was made as a teaching aid with the assistance of the National Film Board of Canada. We'd call it a mockumentary now and its original intent was to teach critical thinking skills. Now, unfortunately, some flat earthers are attempting to use it as if it were a fact-based documentary supporting their beliefs. This is easily disproved. For example, there's absolutely no scholarly writing about the existence of Andrea Barnes outside of this mockumentary. In fact, the guide presented with it explicitly explained that its purpose was take something everyone generally understood to be false (the earth is flat) and make a film showing the opposite. Students were then expected to study the film and explain the problems with it. Also note that the end credits explain that ALL the character portrayed except certain historical figures are fictional. Andrea Barnes, then, is even very clearly explained fictional in the credits.

Presenting this film as any way supporting the flat earth "theory" seems like willful misinformation.

Centered around one woman's lifelong quest to find the edge of the world, this short 'documentary' convincingly explains why the world is flat. By taking itself so seriously, the film demonstrates the power of the documentary: we expect documentaries to be a reliable source of truth and we readily believe them. Watching all these scientists speak so convincingly about the flatness of the Earth, I actually found myself wanting to believe them! This film is great fun, and would also be a great tool for teaching history or the scientific method.

I had the very good fortune to participate in Operation Deep Fre3eze 76, 77, and 78. After which I taught Math and Science at the Cusick High School 1980-2003.

The applications of mathematics and physics presented by "In Search of the Edge" resulted in lifelong learning for my students of Physics in the Cusick High School during the period of 1994-2003. I still receive references to Andrea's efforts from my students.

When learning becomes ridged and dry, it is no longer learning. "In Search of the Edge" stretched my students perceptions of fact and fiction, and required them to evaluate, and compare the validity of data and concepts different from 'book learnin'".

It is my hope that I can take the next step and explore the edge of a Flat Universe.

Ideal demonstration showing how fallacious arguments can appear convincing!