Starving the Beast
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Important but sometimes dry docu about higher education.
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Starving the Beast
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What's the Story?
According to STARVING THE BEAST, there's a battle going on in America's public universities, pitting well-funded reformers pushing a "market based" approach (i.e. profit-generating) to education against those championing the ideal of pursuing knowledge for its own sake. Little-known outside the realm of higher education, this fight may in fact be undermining the entire learning process, says director Steve Mims' thought-provoking film. The movie focuses on six schools -- the University of Wisconsin, the University of Virginia, the University of North Carolina, Louisiana State University, the University of Texas, and Texas A&M -- where recent challenges to unseat administrators have been waged in an attempt to redefine academia's entire mission. The goal of activists like Jeff Sandefer is to treat university schooling as a commodity, and he sees students as the consumers. In that scenario, success is measured by satisfying the customers by delivering a product they like. But traditional academics reject that strategy because it fails to challenge students and they fear it will eventually mean dumbing-down the country's top research institutions.
Is It Any Good?
This is an important film, if not necessarily always a compelling one. The subject is certainly thought-provoking: Expect to be riled up watching the machinations of "disruptors" who want to change the university model, with little regard to -- or perhaps awareness of -- the consequences of that change. But any outrage or anger the documentary might provoke is lessened by its somewhat aloof, dry execution. Documentaries have a hard job, and sometimes the subject matter is dense and knotty. Starving the Beast is no exception. Unfortunately, the film can't quite rise above the difficult material. Still, it's worth watching if you have an interest in education -- or a teenager who might be heading to college.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Starving the Beast portrays the state of higher education. What do you think about the market-based approach that's shown here? Do you agree with any of the arguments? Why or why not?
Why do you think academic freedom has become such a political issue?
Who do you think this movie is intended to appeal to? How can you tell?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 9, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: March 17, 2017
- Director: Steve Mims
- Studio: Violet Crown Films
- Genre: Documentary
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 30, 2022
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