Skidmore scholar joins Young Indiana Jones in DVD special

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones ? the Emmy Award-winning TV series, made its DVD debut this fall with an unprecedented array of all-new bonus materials that allow viewers to dig deeper into the real-life events behind Young Indy?s globe-trotting coming-of-age.

Professor Charles M. Joseph

Commentary by Professor of Music Charles M. Joseph is included in the second volume of the series, released this month and titled The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Vol. Two ? The War Years. Produced by veteran CBS News producer David Schneider, the documentaries complement the episodes with insights from scholars, historians, and luminaries from a wide range of disciplines, bringing remarkable and fresh insight into The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones. In addition to some of this country?s pre-eminent scholars, other interviewees include Gen. Colin Powell, Henry Kissinger, Gloria Steinem, Martin Scorsese, James Earl Jones, and Deepak Chopra.

The Skidmore professor is one of several experts providing background in connection with Young Indy?s visit to Russia, where he meets the brilliant Sergei Diaghilev, founder of the Ballet Russes. In his remarks, Joseph discusses Diaghilev collaborator Igor Stravinsky, the famed composer who is the subject of three books by Joseph: Stravinsky and Balanchine: A Journey of Invention (2002, Yale University Press), Stravinsky Inside Out (2001, Yale University Press) and Stravinsky and the Piano (1983, UMI Research Press).

For the DVD, Joseph comments on Stravinsky?s relationship with Diaghilev, who founded the Ballet Russes in 1909. Known for the artistic collaboration among artists, choreographers, and composers, the Ballet Russes earned international acclaim with such ground-breaking Stravinsky compositions as The Firebird (1910), Petrouchka (1911), and The Rite of Spring (1913). The period when Stravinsky was a chief composer for the ballet is considered the richest in the history of the Ballet Russes.

Joseph said he was really pleased by ?the first-class operation? and the strong production values of the company. ?They took the comments of the scholars and wove in corresponding documentary footage,? he explained. ?This doesn?t happen often, to have something that is so involved and of such high quality. The scholarship presented is first-rate,? he added.

The bonus materials included in the DVD package are an extension of the interests of George Lucas, creator of the series that ran on network television from 1992 to 1994. ?I?ve always been fascinated with the people and events of history,? he said in a statement accompanying the release of the DVD series. ?Young Indiana Jones gave me the chance to explore issues and ideas that had so much to do with the emergence of the modern age we live in today.?

The complete, three-volume collection (Volume Three is due for spring 2008 release) will contain 22 feature-length movies and 94 documentaries, interactive games, and an interactive timeline.