Film Club: Explore Wonders of the World Through New York Times 360 V.R. Videos

Do you love to travel? What’s the most memorable place you have ever visited?

In 2017, the Times published short 360 videos on the sites and monuments popularly known as the “new Seven Wonders of the World”: the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Petra, the Colosseum, Christ the Redeemer, Chichén Itzá and Machu Picchu. Have you been to any of these majestic locations? Have you ever dreamed of doing so?

Well, now is your chance. You don’t even have to pack any bags! Choose at least two of the V.R. films below to watch. Each is under two minutes.

The Great Wall, China

Built from 220 B.C. to A.D. 1644 by several emperors and dynasties.

The Taj Mahal, India

Built 1632-48. Commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

Petra, Jordan

Built 4th century B.C. to 2nd century A.D. by the Nabatean kingdom.

The Colosseum, Italy

Built A.D. 72-82. Commissioned by Flavian emperors during the first century of the Roman Empire.

Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

Built 1926-31. Commissioned by the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro.

Chichén Itzá, Mexico

Built 5th-13th century by the Maya-Toltec civilization.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Built in the mid-15th century by the Incas.

As with all of our Film Club entries, we encourage you to take notes using our Film Club Double-Entry Journal (PDF) to help you remember specific moments. You might also use the following prompts to guide reflective writing or classroom discussion:

• What messages, emotions or ideas will you take away from these films? Why?

• What connections can you make between this film and your own life or experience? Why? Does this film remind you of anything else you’ve read or seen? If so, how and why?

• In what ways is V.R. able to take you to distant places that traditional video cannot? What are its limitations?

• Would any of the places you have already visited make a good V.R. video? If so, make a short pitch to The Times!

3. An additional challenge | Respond to the essential question at the top of this post: Where in the world would you most like to travel? Would you like to visit any of the “new Seven Wonders of the World” after having experienced the 360 videos?

4. Next, join the conversation by clicking on the comment button and posting in the box that opens on the right. (Students 13 and older are invited to comment, although teachers of younger students are welcome to post what their students have to say.)

5. After you have posted, try reading back to see what others have said, then respond to someone else by posting another comment. Use the “Reply” button or the @ symbol to address that student directly.

6. To learn more, read “The ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’.” The Times writes:

The Great Wall of China. The Taj Mahal. Petra. The Colosseum. Christ the Redeemer. Chichén Itzá. Machu Picchu.

These sites and monuments are popularly known as the “new Seven Wonders of the World,” modern additions to the ancient Seven Wonders laid out by Philo of Byzantium in 250 B.C., which included the hanging gardens of Babylon and the pyramids of Giza. (Of those ancient seven, only the pyramids remain.)

The new wonders were chosen in 2007 through an online contest put on by a Swiss company, the New 7 Wonders Foundation, in which more than tens of millions of people voted. All are Unesco World Heritage sites.

Built on four continents, most by ancient and medieval empires, the sites selected in 2007 are all architectural marvels of enormous scale — and are among the most visited tourist attractions in the world.

What makes a site a wonder? What would you put on this list?

Want more student-friendly videos? Visit our Film Club column.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.