IDEAS

Idea 5: Viewing and Discussing a Film

Why is it important?

Films can provide students with the opportunity to learn about a culture that is different than their own in a way that may resonate better than a lecture. Further, watching a film and discussing it as a class may spark interest in a student that could lead them to watch more films to educate themselves other cultures.

Instructions

• As a class, choose a foreign country that contains a culture the class may not be familiar with.
• Choose a film- preferably one that is relevant to the culture as a whole. Some themes that could be followed in film choice include: migration, familial traditions, adaptions of novels, and documentaries.
• Include one or two readings that are related to the culture and theme for students to read before viewing the film.
• Together, discuss the themes that transcend through the readings and film. What information was easier to process? How did this effect how you view this culture and what you already knew about it?
• Ask students to critically think about films they have seen that portray different cultures or foreign countries in a way that may be offensive or untrue to the culture.

Advantages

• Promotes exploration of other cultures through media portrayals.
• Allows for students to learn about other cultures in a way that can be shared with peers outside of the classroom.
• Helps students find ways to be more critical of other films that portray cultures in a way that is untrue to the real culture.

Adapted from:
Diversity Across the Curriculum: A guide for Faculty in Higher Education (2007).