TELOS FILM COURSE
Teacher Information
Haven Gross - [email protected]
Film counts as a Fine Arts Credit
See Course Descriptions Below
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Global Education and Social Awareness Through Film harnesses the storytelling power of film to educate the most visually literate generation in history. Film has proven to be effective in connecting cultures, broadening worldviews, nurturing our common human experience, and teaching for global competency. The immediacy and power of a visual story well told can absorb students like no other media. Movies capture attention, often reaching those who resist classroom lessons. This comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum , based on a selection of films, supports various learning styles and promotes literacy meeting interdisciplinary common core standards.
This course will introduce students to the film industry, history of cinema, quality, age-appropriate documentaries and foreign films through the study of classic and contemporary films. It uses film to engage students in meaningful examinations of media literacy, human rights, poverty and hunger, stereotyping, environmental sustainability, conflict resolution, economic development, religion, public health, gender roles, peer pressure, global health, refugee issues,and coming of age.
Students examine the history of film and the magic of the art through the ages. Taking special note of how it affected the world around it as each new technique was developed. Examining the use of storytelling, pacing, camera angles, lighting, sound and color to evoke the desired outcomes. Comparing what captivated the audiences during each decade with a worldview perspective.
Students challenge traditional gender roles in New Zealand’s Maori culture, learn about refugees through young, soccer-loving Tibetan monks, explore compassion in the Middle East, experience unconditional love between a South Korean boy and his mute grandmother, and grieve the loss of family members from the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa. They will:
We examine:
Emphasis will be placed on exposing the class to a wide variety of styles and genres as well as formulating and justifying criticisms of the works all with the goal of inspiring today’s students to become cross-culturally competent, productive and compassionate adults. Full length movies will be watched in their entirety. Visual, oral and written evaluations of each movie are required. Hands-on projects, written analyses and participation in class discussions will be requirements for successful completion of the course.
Global Education and Social Awareness Through Film harnesses the storytelling power of film to educate the most visually literate generation in history. Film has proven to be effective in connecting cultures, broadening worldviews, nurturing our common human experience, and teaching for global competency. The immediacy and power of a visual story well told can absorb students like no other media. Movies capture attention, often reaching those who resist classroom lessons. This comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum , based on a selection of films, supports various learning styles and promotes literacy meeting interdisciplinary common core standards.
This course will introduce students to the film industry, history of cinema, quality, age-appropriate documentaries and foreign films through the study of classic and contemporary films. It uses film to engage students in meaningful examinations of media literacy, human rights, poverty and hunger, stereotyping, environmental sustainability, conflict resolution, economic development, religion, public health, gender roles, peer pressure, global health, refugee issues,and coming of age.
Students examine the history of film and the magic of the art through the ages. Taking special note of how it affected the world around it as each new technique was developed. Examining the use of storytelling, pacing, camera angles, lighting, sound and color to evoke the desired outcomes. Comparing what captivated the audiences during each decade with a worldview perspective.
Students challenge traditional gender roles in New Zealand’s Maori culture, learn about refugees through young, soccer-loving Tibetan monks, explore compassion in the Middle East, experience unconditional love between a South Korean boy and his mute grandmother, and grieve the loss of family members from the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa. They will:
- Mitigate attitudes of cultural bias;
- Develop a deeper understanding of global issues;
- Prepare for effective participation in the world economy; and
- Make relevant connections between global, national, community, family and individual experiences.
We examine:
- Filmmaker Bias. The filmmaker almost always has an agenda with a point of view. We explore the filmmaker’s point of view on the subject of the film: Does it lead to distortion? How much faith can the viewer put in the film’s perspective on the subject? This is not to say we should never trust a documentary film, only that we should examine the film’s and the filmmaker’s perspective to determine how much we accept their depiction of reality. This provokes interesting discussion and examination of the various definitions of “truth” we find around us in the media each day.
- Viewer Bias. We may notice a clash between our own beliefs and those of the filmmaker that keeps us from accepting what is being presented, despite the ethical intent of the filmmaker. Encouraging viewers to be aware of our own biases that may prevent us from accepting information that is honestly depicted in a film – a useful lesson about the filters we use everyday as we process information.
Emphasis will be placed on exposing the class to a wide variety of styles and genres as well as formulating and justifying criticisms of the works all with the goal of inspiring today’s students to become cross-culturally competent, productive and compassionate adults. Full length movies will be watched in their entirety. Visual, oral and written evaluations of each movie are required. Hands-on projects, written analyses and participation in class discussions will be requirements for successful completion of the course.
