This Is Spinal Tap: With Christopher Shera

Media

Logistics

  • March 18, 2013
  • This event has passed.
  • Offering Format: Public Event, Lecture
  • Coolidge Corner Theatre
  • Members, students, and seniors: $8; general admission: $10

    • Associated Persons

    With Christopher Shera

Description

Director Rob Reiner’s towering cult classic follows the key members of fictional British heavy metal band Spinal Tap—lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), lead singer/guitarist David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer)—as they embark on an American comeback tour in support of their latest LP. Unfortunately for these washed-up metal heads, just about anything that can go wrong does, from cancelled shows to botched stage props to playing second fiddle to a puppet show. This hilarious, and eminently quotable, rockumentary, which does indeed go all the way up to 11, includes such immortal Spinal Tap hits as “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight,” “Cups and Cakes,” and, of course, “Stonehenge.”

Before the screening of this aural masterpiece, auditory physiologist Christopher Shera discusses the science of sound and hearing. What is sound? How does it differ from silence? Can you hear yourself hearing? And how loud can we go? A fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, Dr. Shera is Associate professor of otology & laryngology and health sciences and technology at Harvard Medical School.

With Science on Screen, the Coolidge Corner Theatre creatively pairs a feature film or documentary with lively presentations by notable figures from the world of science, medicine, and technology. The Science on Screen series is co-presented by the Museum of Science, Boston and supported by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, with additional support from Gesmer, Updegrove LLP, and Richard Anders.

Photo © Embassy/Photofest

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