TEACHSOC: Re: Crash?

[Tina Deshotels]

I had the same experience.  Several (especially students of color but also some white students) commented that the film made it seem like racism was equally likely to happen to all people and thus it (racism) was not a problem.  These observations made for great class discussion though so I thought the film (actually I usually only show clips) was useful.    I think how the racial/class/gender of the student body mitigates the reactions to sociological material presented in the classroom is a common thread I’ve seen on this listserve and maybe one we should make more explicit.  For example, when talking about what kinds of ‘social facts’ appeal to students the comment was made that growing incarceration rates may not appeal to students because they don’t see themselves at risk for incarceration.  If your student body is composed of a high percentage of working class and minority students (like it is at my university) these statistics carry high appeal (sad to say!!)    Tina    From: teachsoc@googlegroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Melanie E. L. Bush Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 8:06 AM To: teachsoc@googlegroups.com Subject: TEACHSOC: Re: Crash?   Just a word on Crash - while it was "popular" with some, there were also many who felt it was offensive because it reinforced a "why can't we all just get along" message rather than addressing the structural/historical aspects underlying the relationships.  Depended on whose eyes one viewed it through .... in my classes white students more frequently thought it was great while students of color found it very painful and inadequate. Just some food for thought...   On 9/14/06, Jack Estes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: My two cents re films: I love using them and agree completely that they take LOTS of preparation in order to be really effective. Once they're carefully selected and the students have an opportunity to apply sociological principles to them (a paper seems almost mandatory in teaching a film; certainly a worksheet, at least), they can be very effective. I've used several different feature films in my intro classes. I think it's valuable to find popular films, if possible, the ones the students watch at home on DVD, in order to make the class most effective. It can help a student "see" what's going on around him or her. What does this film really SAY? "Crash" fits the bill as both provocative and popular. Several of my students had seen it. Watching it again, though, certainly didn't hurt anyone. Myself included. My problem with the films is the time they take. I've found that using TV shows can be more easily handled. Last semester I used Jerry Springer, Trading Spouses, MTV's "Made," South Park, The Cosby Show, The Apprentice, All in the Family, Everybody Loves Raymond, Fabulous Lives, one or two others I can't remember just now. I've used Seinfeld in the past as well as Super Bowl and Academy Awards clips. Again, when the students see things in class that they're used to watching at home, it can give them a new awareness of what they're watching. Jack Estes BMCC/CUNY ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Greene" < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: < teachsoc@googlegroups.com> Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 2:19 PM Subject: TEACHSOC: Re: Crash? Chris, a great movie although I know some HS adminstrators that frown on it being shown in HS particurally with the content. I think that social class is just important in that movie as is race so my might want to use it to show how race and social class are fused when African Americans are portrayed. And how upper class whites can use their privileged status. >>> chris salituro <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 09/14/06 12:59 PM >>> Does anyone use the movie Crash.  Any advice on how to approach it. I find the movie very interesting and I have used it, but I want to hone my discussion and connection to content. Chris Salituro 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 > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Teaching Sociology" group. 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