2010-11
1. THEME: “What is Popular Culture?” -
Video – Frontline: “The Merchants of Cool”
A. What is Popular Culture & how does it effect your life?
B. What in your opinion is the most influential form of Popular Culture?
2. THEME: Corruption in Popular Culture
Video: “Corruption of the American Child” – Bill O’Reilly Special
A. Why would a young person want to see, hear, or be a fan of groups like ICP or Marilyn Manson or Emminem?
B. What will you do to protect your child from the “corruption” caused by American Popular Culture?
3. THEME: “Teen Violence”
Video #1 - “60 Minutes – School Shootings”
Video #2 – Frontline: Killer at Thurston High (Kip Kinkel story)
Video #3 – “Bowling for Columbine”
A. What factors do you think contributed to the large number of school shootings since the 1990’’s?
B. What do you think was Michael Moore’s main point in the film “Bowling for
Columbine”?
C. Who benefits from the “Culture of Fear” in the United States?
4. THEME: “What is Beauty?”
video #1 - TLC “Beauty & Facial Attractiveness” (John Cleese)
video #2 -“American Beauty”.
Video #1 - TLC “Beauty & Facial Attractiveness”
A. What is Beauty?
B. List the characteristics that you think make for a “beautiful” man & woman..
Video #2 - “American Beauty”.
C. Think of something “unusual” that you consider to be “beautiful”.
Explain why?
D. What do the characters see as “major problems” in their lives?
E. What do you need in your life in order to be happy?
F. What does the film’s creator mean by the title “American Beauty”?
5. THEME: “The Importance of Sports in America” – part 1
video #1 – HBO – Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
video #2 – “Friday Night Lights”
A. What problems in our society could be caused by our over-emphasis on
sports?
B. In “Friday Night Lights”, which of the characters do you think will grow up to
be the most successful? What is it about them that makes you think they
will be successful in life?
6. THEME: “The Importance of Sports in America” – part 2
Video: “Hoop Dreams”
A. What is your prediction for William and Arthur?
B. Pick any situation from the film you would like to discuss and answer the
question: “Who is to blame?
C. In the film “Hoop Dreams”, who is the “good-guy” & who is the “bad-guy”?
Explain in detail.
7. THEME: “Family Values”
Video #1 – “Pleasantville”
Video #2 “Life as a House”
Video #1 – “Pleasantville”
A. Describe your idea of an “Ideal Family” (answer as if you were an adult)
B. What is it that brings color to the lives of the Pleasantville characters?
Video #2 “Life as a House”
C. If your life were a house, what would it look like & where would it be?
D. If you ever have a problem with a friend or family member, what lesson
could you learn from this film to help you “rebuild” the relationship?
8. Theme: “Love & Relationships”
Video #1 “Liberty Heights”
Video: #2 “Garden State”
A. (Liberty Heights) What is your attitude toward “Inter-Faith” & “Inter-Racial” relationships?
B. (Garden State) Which is better; to “feel no pain” or to live life fully? Explain your answer.
9. THEME: TEENS & STEREOTYPES
Video: “The Breakfast Club”
A. What is each character’s stereotypic Label.
1. Andy Clark
2. Claire Standish
3. John Bender
4. Brian Johnson
5. Allison Reynolds
B. What does this film have to say about the use of stereotypes?
C. If you were to write a sequel to Breakfast Club how would the story end for
each of the characters by the end of your film?
10. THEME: Teen Culture
Video “American Graffiti”
A. What are some of the “rituals of adolescence” or “rites of passage” for teenagers today?
B. Compare & contrast teen life of the 1960’s to teen life today.
Video #2 Dazed and Confused
C. Compare and contrast the two “Period Films” – American Graffiti & Dazed and Confused .
Compare And Contrast the treatment of each of the following elements in these two films:
Recreational Activity
The Opposite Sex
School
Illegal Activity
11. THEME; DRUGS & ADDICTION
Video #1 - HBO – “Crank: Made in America”,
Video #2 - "Things We Lost in the Fire"
A. For years now, people have been making films and TV programs showing
how Drugs &/or Alcohol have ruined someone’s life. Why then, do people
still mess up their lives by getting involved with some form of substance
abuse?
12. THEME: A CULTURE OF GREED
Video #1 - "Wall Street"
Video #2 - Henry Kravis vs Martin Luther King (Brave New Films)
A. Is Greed a good thing, or bad thing? Explain your answer.
