The Standard Deviants: Sociology, Part 1 [VHS]
The Standard Deviants, a troupe of energetic young performers whose   offbeat presentations are designed to make serious academic subjects memorable, present a two-hour introduction to sociology in this video.  Using a variety of skits (including anX-Filesspoof), the basic concepts of the subject are presented in as lively a manner as possible.  Even Dr. Ruth Westheimer appears throughout the tape, offering help with definitions and perspective on particular concepts.  Various pioneers of sociology are briefly profiled and their contributions explained.  Societal organizations and cultures are discussed in some depth, with the performers appearing in skits that illustrate essential concepts.  The typical approach of the Standard Deviants is keep the teaching unorthodox enough that it will be memorable, and while imparting sociological knowledge, they're not afraid to put on outlandish costumes, deliver bad jokes, and toss around off-the-wall pop culture references.  A fair amount of text appears on screen, but lively computer graphics and animations keep things interesting to the eye.  This isn't meant to be a comprehensive course in sociology, but the material has all been approved by an academic panel, and as a review course this is cogently delivered body of material.--Robert J. McNamara