TEACHSOC: Re: video suggestions for my Introduction to Sociology course

Wed, 11 Jan 2006 10:06:57 -0800

I rented Dogtown and Z-Boys—a documentary about skateboarders and surfers during the 1970s—narrated by Sean Penn.  Excellent footage from the period with interviews of the guys and gals today…great piece on the subculture of skateboarding with some interesting social class overtones and the social context of beach-life in Southern California/Santa Monica before all of it went high-rent…morten

 

From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of D. Angus Vail
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 12:07 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: TEACHSOC: Re: video suggestions for my Introduction to Sociology course

 

Hi, Elzabeth.  If we're using the term in similar ways, I tend to think of deviance when I think of subcultures--although that need not be the case, of course.  That in mind, when I teach subcultures, I tend to go for unusual choices.  I highly recommend Trekkies, which is a wonderful documentary about fans of Star Trek.  There are all sorts of wonderful examples of boundary maintenance and gatekeeping; there are great labeling issues; there's a little bit of anomie; there are even some interesting class issues as one of the characters has remodeled his bathroom in
Star Trek motifs and he wears his "uniform" while grocery shopping--with food stamps.  It's wonderfully entertaining, it's accessible, and it addresses a kind of deviance that does no harm, which makes it a lot of fun.

Sid and Nancy has a pretty nice treatment of punk subculture, and The Color of Money (Paul Newman and Tom Cruise) has got a pretty nice treatment of pool hustling subculture.

Here's hoping that helps.  Best, A.



D. Angus Vail
Department of Sociology
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503.370.6313
Fax: 503.370.6512

"It's not enough to know that things work.
The laurels go to those who can show HOW they work."

From: "Jack Estes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Elizabeth Durden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: <[email protected]>
Subject: TEACHSOC: Re: video suggestions for my Introduction to Sociology course
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 11:46:39 -0500

Hi Elizabeth,

 

I have a couple suggestions. Smoke Signals worked well with my intro class last term. It's a feature film based on a short story by Sherman Alexie and set mostly on a reservation in eastern Washington. I also would suggest People Like Us, the documentary which many have discussed and which, although not focusing on more exotic subcultures, certainly examines subcultures based on class: Black middle class, "redneck" culture, "big hair" culture, high school, etc.

 

Jack Estes

BMCC/CUNY

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 1:42 PM

Subject: TEACHSOC: video suggestions for my Introduction to Sociology course

 

Hi All,

For my introduction to sociology course, we do a segment on Subcultures. I like to show a video and have successfully used The Devil's Playground. However, I would like to make a change and am looking for suggestions.

Any videos/documentaries illustrating subcultures within the United States?

As usual, thanks so much.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Durden, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA 17837
(570) 577-3483

 

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