HIgh school teachers must always be weary of administrators who are reluctant to have teachers show movies that might be controversial. Some will deny a movie even when the teacher obtains parental permission ( a moot point if students are over 18 years) so I took the attitude after 16 years that the best thing was to show movies that didn't require adminstrative permission.
>>> Sarah Murray <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 09/16/06 2:44 PM >>> It was an inadequate film in my opinion -- an "easy" solution to the Oscar dilemma to deny the obvious frontrunner -- Brokeback Mountain -- an Oscar because of homophobia within the Academy (no, all "artsy" types are NOT sympathetic to gay causes). "Cash" spoons out its messages like a film meant to be shown in a college classroom. I am showing Brokeback Mountain in my courses on Violence and Sexuality -- it is subtler, more artistic and drives home some really good points about "red state" homophobia and how that fact -- not gay marriage -- compromises traditional marriages. I am a straight, married Mom of 3, and Brokeback Mountain was one of my favorite films of all times -- as well as being rich with sociological implications. Sarah Murray William Paterson U. of NJ ----- Original Message ----- From: Melanie E. L. Bush To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 9:06 AM 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: < [email protected]> 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. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
