Baboon on the Moon

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Area: Aesthetics, Art, Film, History and Social Studies, Music, Social & Policitical Philosophy
Grade Level: High School & Beyond, Middle School, Primary/Elementary School
Topics: Happiness
Estimated Time Necessary: 45 minutes

Lesson Plan

Objectives:
Thinking together about loneliness, home, music, and art.
This film can generate discussion about a wide array of philosophical topics including: loneliness, communication, what makes a place home, how we communicate through art and music, and what role art plays in our lives.

This lesson plan can be used either in a classroom or online.

Plot Summary: This six-minute film is about a baboon who lives alone on the Moon. Wordless and moving, the video portrays the baboon as full of longing for the Earth, struggling with feelings of sadness and loneliness. Looking wistfully out at Earth, he cries and plays a mournful tune on his trumpet.

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Video

Baboon on the Moon from AUB Animation on Vimeo.

Discussion Questions

  • How is the baboon feeling? How can you tell given he does not say anything?
  • What does it mean to be homesick?
  • Is there a difference between being alone and being lonely?
  • Is loneliness always negative?
  • When we feel lonely, do we always also feel sad?
  • Do we appreciate things more when we cannot have them?
  • What makes a place home?
  • Is it worth sacrificing your happiness to do a very important job that helps others?
  • What role does the music play for the baboon?
  • Is music important to you? What role does it play in your life?
  • Can we communicate with others through art?

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

If you would like to change or adapt any of PLATO's work for public use, please feel free to contact us for permission at info@plato-philosophy.org.