I think movies can provide excellent discussion and can act as case
studies for students to digest and discuss what we are learning in
class. This provides a common experience that we call engage in.
For example:
I have used A Bronx Tale to discuss groups and social structure and the
major theories of sociology. Here are some sample discussion
questions:
For
Socialization:
Use your notes on
socialization and from the movie to show evidence whether humans are really
free to make their own decisions or not. Take into account nature, nurture and what makes
humans special.
Discuss the “other
agents of socialization” from your notes. How do these agents affect
Collogero?
Does the movie support what the
book says about each agent? Explain.
Why is Mario so
hateful/racist?
Trace the development of hate
in the movie - it ends with the destruction of Mario and Collogero’s other
friends, where does it begin?
How does school
play a role in the socialization of the different groups?
For Groups and Social
Structure:
Bronx Tale
1A: Collogero’s Master Status
What
groups is Collogero a part of? Why does Collogero say "No" when the policeman
asked him if Sonny was the guy with the gun? How do these groups affect his
decision to say no? Which group, do you think had the biggest impact on
Collogero's decision?
Bronx Tale
1B: Social Institutions
Identify a social institution that is present in the
movie and what role does it play in the movie? How are these similar or
different to the role that the same social institution plays in your
hometown?
Bronx Tale
1C: Collogero’s Roles
Discuss the role
that Collogero has in one of the groups. Remember that a role, to the sociologist, is the
rights and obligations of belonging to the group. In
other words, what does Collogero get by belonging to the group, and what is
expected of him?
Identify how Collogero
experiences both role strain and role conflict.
Bronx Tale
1D: Collogero’s Statuses
What statuses does
Collogero have that are achieved and which ones are
ascribed?
Explain why each one is
categorized that way. Describe the role that Collogero has to play with each
status. What do you think his master status is at the end of
the movie?
Does it change from the
beginning of the movie to the end.
I have also used Bowling for Columbine, People Like Us, Tuesdays With
Morrie, and Crash.
On Sep 14, 2006, at 12:23 PM, Del Thomas Ph D wrote:
We have the deer hunter, Apocalypse Now, Cuckoo's nest......many more.
Yet none seem to have an impact.
Maybe American Idol doesn't either... has anyone
tested the impact of
any film in a classroom?
What is learned from films?
The other day I listened to a 10 year old.... I
looked at the dollar
bill he said. there is was
in god we trust. He continued to explain that the
trouble we are in now
is because we do
not follow that simple message....... that statement is there for a
reason
he explained.... god
wants us to know that we should trust in him and it
will be all
right.... he was articulate...
he had learned....the lessons well....
Del
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