Monday, April 20, 2009

Movie Class

Why do some teachers feel it is OK to substitute lecture and content with movies? An example is in my Theories of Personality class. We spent 2 days watching "Tuesday's with Morrie". I'm not slamming the film, it is a very good movie, but what are we suppose to get out of that in regards to content relevant to the class I am paying over 500$ to take?


Another example is from my Philosophy of Aesthetics class. We are doing a unit now on propaganda and the use of art as a political tool. My teacher has been showing us "Triumph of the Will" a Nazi propaganda film. I have no idea what I am suppose to be getting from this? Is it that propaganda works? Am I suppose to notice the camera angles and techniques used?


I think that on occasion teachers forget that we do not know everything they do. I think they have a hard time looking at things from our (the students) perspective. I am paying money to come to class and to learn something from these experts. I expect to have conversations, discussions, even a lecture. But to throw up a video and hope we gleam something from it, is in my opinion a cheap and lazy trick that is a waste of my time. If I want to watch a movie I will go and rent one.


Ryder

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