A Deep Dive Guide: Discussion Page 3
Section Guide
Discussion
What stage of Grief do you think Mr. Kaufman is in at the beginning of Whale 52?
Do you think that changes by the end of the end of the movie?
Five Stages Of Grief
Denial: Refusing to accept the reality of the loss.
Anger: A mask for pain, often directed at others, oneself, or the “universe.”
Bargaining: Trying to make deals or promises to regain control or reverse the situation, often with a higher power.
Depression: Experiencing the full weight of the loss, leading to deep sadness, emptiness, and isolation.
Acceptance: Coming to terms with the reality of the loss and learning to live with it; finding a way forward.
Iso·la·tion
The condition of being - or feeling – completely alone, especially when this makes you feel sad.
A universal theme is a central idea, message, or insight about life and the human condition that resonates across all cultures, time periods, and places, exploring common experiences like love, loss, identity, good vs. evil, or courage. These deep, abstract concepts connect humanity by reflecting shared emotions and struggles, serving as building blocks in literature, art, and life, making stories and art relatable to anyone, anywhere.
Whale 52 can only emit sounds at a frequency of 52 Hz, a frequency no other whale on the planet can hear.
Do you think there’s a bit of Whale 52 in all of us?
Do you think Enam can hear Whale 52?
Even though Enam doesn’t speak, do you think Whale 52 can hear Enam?
All About Sound
Every kind of sound is produced by vibration. The sound source may be a violin, a car horn, a barking dog, or a whale.
Pitch is simply the rate (speed) at which vibrations are produced. Pitch is how high or low a sound feels, but different from loudness.
Sound rate (frequency), measured in Hertz (Hz), tells us how high or low a sound's pitch is, with more waves per second (higher Hz) meaning higher pitch (like a whistle) and fewer waves (lower Hz) meaning lower pitch (like a bass drum).
Loudness is measured in decibels (dB).
****Sound travels extremely fast and far underwater because water is denser than air, meaning its molecules are packed tightly, helping vibrations zip from one to another, like a game of telephone where everyone's close together, making it loud and clear for whales and dolphins to chat across oceans. ****
Does it sound like any musical instruments to you?
If it does, which instruments do you hear?
Do whales sing?
YES!
Whale “songs” are sequences of sounds, including moans, clicks, groans, and whistles, structured into themes and phrases – like music.
While the humpback whale is famous for its songs, the singing may serve as more than a “concert.”
It can serve as a way to communicate with other whales many miles away.
Actual Recording of a Whale Song
Do Whales Cry?
While whales may not be “crying" in the human sense of crying. they can express messages like loneliness, mating calls, or territorial dominance. To the human ear - and our empathic sensibilities - the whales’ long, drawn-out calls sound like mournful wails or even sobbing. “Heart Sounds,” as the filmmakers of Whale 52 characterize them.
AS YOU LISTEN TO THE WHALE 52 SOUNDTRACK, WRITE DOWN SOME OF THE EMOTIONS YOU FEEL.
Musicians Scott Li and Qiujiang Levi Lu composed and performed the soundtrack to Whale 52. Whale songs inspired their compositions, giving musical voice to Mr. Kaufman, Enam, and Whale 52, too.
Scott Li
Qiujiang Levi Lu
You’re invited to watch the film again.
Look for things you might have missed during the first viewing and be ready to discuss them.
Remember to pay attention to Enam’s eye contact with Mr. Kaufman.
Consider how the real-life Whale 52 relates to messages in the movie.
“Give me the gift of a listening heart.”
How do you interpret the quote that appears at the end of Whale 52?
BTS with Director Daniel Neiden
Here’s a short, fun behind-the-scenes video showing how Director Daniel Neiden inspired Bill Plympton and the team to transform live action into animation.