CRASH was used as the "common text" for our first year students this
year. Many of them seemed to like it, and they said that it gave them
issues to talk about.
My experience differed. I found the film lacking in two important
ways. First, it seemed to deal in cliche and stereotyped characeters -
the hardworking Arab shop owner, the brutal cop with a sick parent, etc.
Second, it is an unrelentingly negative film. While I'm all for
highlighting social problems, some of my students often ask, "is
sociology always depressing?" or "why do you only show us how bad things
are, and not how people do anything to change them?"
I think those are valid questions from students, and prefer to show
films in which the problems are visible but so are the opportunities for
social action.
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"A culture without oppotunities to be a star lacks meaning."
from Applying Sociology, by DuBois and Wright
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Sister Edith Bogue, Ph.D. / Dept. of Sociology
College of St. Scholastica / Duluth MN 55811-4199
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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>>> "John Eby" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 01/04/06 10:23 AM >>>
I have not seen the film CRASH, but many students from my Race,
Ethnicity
and Gender class this fall highly recommended it to me and for the
class in
the future. So, from students who should have some sensitivity to the
issues
and some analytic skills to understand them, CRASH gets a good review.
John Eby
Messiah College
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I vaguely remember a discussion several months ago about the film
Crash
being used in courses to illustrate issues of race and stereotypes
(among
other issues). I'm considering using this film in a Perspectives on
Justice
class and was wondering if anyone has specific ideas about
incorporation,
follow-up, etc. If you respond privately, I'll compile responses and
post to
the list.
Much appreciated,
~Lisa
**********
Lisa Anne Zilney, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Montclair State University
Sociology & Justice Studies
Dickson Hall 314
Upper Montclair, NJ, 07043
Office: 973-655-7225
Fax: 973-655-5389
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress,
can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
---Mahatma Gandhi
Live as if you were to die tomorrow,
Learn as if you were to live forever.
---Mahatma Gandhi
