This is a topic close to my (teaching) heart. Couple things here hit me: "a
message that we want to promote" and "punitive treatments for those...."
Both lines seem a bit scary to me.
Is it the "message" we want, or is it the opportunity to teach - to
illustrate - some topic? Seems to me that almost any commercial film can be
used effectively in a clasroom in sociology if we use it as a tool to look
at the sociological issues involved (and not necessarily to try to advance
our own pet messages). Maybe the issue will be exploitation by the producer
(an external issue), or maybe it will be an examination of the internal
elements - in Brokeback's case the relationships between the men, between
the men and their wives, between the men and the society, between the men
and their boss. So much could be studied here, I would think. In an intro
class, we could look at elements of culture (norms, values, sanctions,
language, etc.), at social structure, at socialiation, at deviance, at
stratification, and certainly at gender issues. At least. Seems to me the
film - any film, actually - is LOADED for such topics.
In fact, one of the benefits of using commercial films is to challenge
students to see their so-called casual interactions with popular culture as,
in fact, serious ways in which they are being socialized - and exploited. It
should help them to become aware of what they so often take for granted.
I'm not sure what is meant by the punitive treatments. Did you mean, Del,
that these are punitive treatments by the "females" you refer to? Or did you
mean by the profs? Sounds like you refer to profs since you talk about
classroom experiences. I don't get this at all. You mean you've heard that
some profs are punishing students for not wanting to watch this film? How
would they do that? Seems confusing to me. Why would they do that?
Anyway, just some Saturday morning thoughts.
Jack Estes
BMCC/CUNY
----- Original Message -----
From: "Del Thomas Ph. D." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 9:23 AM
Subject: TEACHSOC: Re: using Brokeback Mountain to teach
Using commercial film in class
Does this film send a message that we want to promote in a sociology class
room? How do we know what is learned?
What about the variation of what is learned based on gender or faith?
This film has been marketed for females and their "Yes dear I'll go with
you" power. I understand that some have recommended
punitive treatments for those who do not want to have this as a classroom
experience.
Your thoughts.
Del
