TEACHSOC: Re: using Brokeback Mountain to teach

[Robert Hironimus-Wendt]

Hi Folks   If I might… I am new to the list, but it seems to me we are getting a bit off track. In hopes of refocusing the discussion…   I believe the initial intention was to discuss whether or not we the readership of this listserve felt showing the movie Brokeback Mountain would be beneficial in a couple gender related sociology courses. We quickly began discussing how we personally perceived the movie. Some suggested it was appropriate, some said it was not appropriate.   My approach would be to first determine what it is that I want my students to learn as a result of taking a course I am teaching (e.g., what are my course objectives)? It took me a few years to do so, but once I started writing clear and unambiguous course objectives into my syllabi, choosing texts, readings and supplemental materials became less problematic. And I think that is where we should begin whenever we wish to introduce new readings, videos, activities, etc.   As you may recall, I am not a fan of video, although I have no basis for this other than personal preferences. Nonetheless, I do recognize students like this pedagogy (and audiovisuals are about pedagogy). Hence, I would first ask what I intend for my specific course to specifically accomplish in the context of gay homosexual relations. I would ask myself if there is a particular perspective or knowledge base that I want my students to learn by the end of the semester? If so, I would ask if there are audiovisual, textual, and discussion topics that could be used by me to help my students develop that knowledge or perspective.   Only at the last stage would I start asking which videos, which clips, which readings, would make it easier for my students to learn what I want them to learn. It should not be about the artists’, directors’ or producers’ objectives, but about our objectives as teachers, trying to accomplish specific learning goals. The choice of video should primarily facilitate our abilities to teach concepts. Thus, while there are lots of videos that can be related to any given topic, the relevant questions seem to be (a) which video would seem most likely to teach the most students, and (b) which video best aids me in accomplishing my objectives.   In this sense, I have way of judging Brokeback Mountain, having not seen it yet, and since I do not feel a need to use a video in this content domain of my courses. But that does not mean the video couldn’t be used by others effectively.   Peace to all   Robert       Robert J. Hironimus-Wendt, Ph.D. Sociology and Anthropology Western Illinois University 1 University Circle Macomb, IL 61455-1390 phone: (309) 298-1081 fax: (309) 298-1857 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can,    in all the ways you can, in all the places you can,    at all the times you can, to all the people you can,  as long as ever you can." -- John Wesley