Transcript Over the course of our lives, there are many external and

Over the course of our lives,
there are many external and
internal influences that shape
our identity.
Today, the KEY External Influence on
our identity we are focusing on is . . .
What is the media?
• It is “the means of communication, as
radio and television, newspapers, and
magazines that reach or influence people
widely?” – dictionary.com
Types of Media
So then . . . Ultimately,
what is the purpose of the media?
1. To convey information
2. To influence public opinion
3. To create public opinion
Class Discussion
and
Poll-Taking Activity
Discussion Questions
1. How many of you watch television daily?
2. How many of you use the phone at least twice a day if
not more?
3. How many of you own at least one portable device?
(Example: phone, ipad, ipod, kindle, tablet, etc.)
4. How many of you own at least two?
5. How many of you use these devices daily?
6. How many of you use these devices to connect to the
internet?
7. How many of you watch videos online?
Now For A Bit More Thought-Provoking
Discussion Questions
1. How often do you search (internet, TV channels,
etc.) for video entertainment that is humorous?
2. How often do you search (internet, TV channels,
etc.) for video entertainment that is primarily
informational?
3. How much time do you think you spend
searching sites like youtube?
4. How much time do you think you spend
discussing the video entertainment (i.e.
youtube) you have recently watched with
others?
Film-Based Media
Discussion Questions
1. In your opinion, what makes an entertaining film?
2. After watching a film, how many immediately talk about
the “craziness” (violence, intense plot, extreme
moments, weirdly inappropriate humor, etc.) that
occurred in the film?
3. After watching a film/clip/show, how many question why
the director made the film the way he did or why did he
make it at all?
4. Generally, after watching a film/clip/show, how many
want to change it? How many accept it as is?
5. Have you ever watched a film you wished you hadn’t?
6. After watching a film, how many talk about the meaning
(the point) of the film?
So why all the questions . . . ?
Perspective vs. Acceptance
• So often we accept things at face value.
– We fall into a daily routine without even realizing it
or questioning it.
• So often we could question, but we don’t because it
is easier to just view the media and accept what is
being put forth.
• We get used to searching and view things without a
filter rather we do it just to satisfy our curiosity.
• In other words, we often accept when we should
critically think about our own perspective about
what is being put in front of us via the media.
A Reminder: Perspective is . . .
Perspective –
• The ability to see a different side of things (a
different point of view), evaluate and learn
from what you have seen.
• From there, you create your own opinion
about that different side you have seen.
– As such, when one has perspective, one is
able to view the media through their own
eyes rather than the sometimes cloudy lens
the media provides.
THUS,
The objective of this lesson is to
critically think about how we
perceive not only the media, but
how the media portrays the identity
of others while influencing us to do
the same.
Film Disclaimer
• The film you are about to see is a documentary
that takes an in-depth look into the portrayal of
First Nations, Métis and Inuit people throughout
the history of Hollywood.
• This film not only ties into two of the texts we
have currently studied (Halfbreed and The Truth
About Stories), but it reveals the importance of
viewing a people’s identity with open eyes
(perspective).
Film Disclaimer
• In this film, you will view a variety of actors,
directors, writers, and activists including Clint
Eastwood, Adam Beach and Chris Eyre (the
director of Smoke Signals) giving their own
perspective about the myth of the “reel injun”.
• Before you view this film, I ask that you take a
minute to think about how important your
cultural ethnicity is to you and how important it
is to identity as a whole.
Film
Discussion
and
Activities
Clint Eastwood
“I remember once we were on a
set, the director said ‘I want a
real native, upfront. I want to
see the real thing.’ We couldn’t
find one!”
Question #1: What are
stereotypes?
What are Stereotypes?
• A generalized view of a
type of person or group
of people
• “to believe unfairly that
all people with a
particular characteristic
are the same”
(Merriam-Webster)
• Stereotyping
What Stereotypes of the Aboriginal
peoples are present in this film?
• “The Noble Injun” – romanticized, brave, strong, stoic,
warrior with a close connection to the land
• “The Savage Injun” – the one who scalps, the one who
is untamed, and the one who is feared
• “The Cowboy” vs. the Injun – Cowboy always wins;
“Injun” is always savage or illiterate or treated like
children
• “The Groovy Injun” – the cool indian; peace; love;
happiness; spiritual
Question #2: How does the
media distort identity?
Adam Beach
“We’ll never be able to change the
fantasy of who and what Indians
are. That fantasy will always be
there, we will always be on the
cover of novels saying ‘Cheyenne
Warrior’!”
Where is identity revealed in this film?
• Class Answers:
Where is identity compromised,
distorted, and/or shaped to suit the
Western image of the Aboriginal
people?
• Class Answers:
Throughout the Hollywood film industry,
what was done to reaffirm Aboriginal
stereotypes?
• Class Answers:
Question #3: Why did I show you
this film? What I am hoping that
you
Visual Prompt/Quotation Activity