Date:         Tue, 01 Jul 97 14:03:49 CDT
From: "Michael O. Maume" <MMAUME@LSUVM.SNCC.LSU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Intro Sociology Course
To: Recipients of list SOCGRAD <socgrad@CSF.COLORADO.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <970630.145109.EDT.DMC96005@UConnVM.UConn.Edu>
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When I was an undergrad several years ago, I took and then TA'd a course
developed by a sociology professor at my tiny liberal arts college called,
Sociology Through the Cinema.  It was intended as an intro to sociology
and sociological concepts using movies (aka films).  Students learned the
concepts through brief intros to the movies by the prof, along with "maps,"
or chapters devoted to each movie which covered the relevant topics.
The latter were essentially guides to help students write brief papers
applying the concepts to what they had watched.

The following provides some examples of the movies.  I'm sure you can think
of others (and apply some of those already posted):

Sociological paradigms (func/conf/SI)  --  Lord of the Flies (the B&W version)
Socialization  --  Greystoke (yes, the Tarzan movie)
Culture  --  The Gods Must Be Crazy
Social roles --  The Great Santini; Conrack (the latter is definitely worth
                   seeing -- both movies were based on Pat Conroy's books)
Social control  --  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; Brubaker
Social inequality / strat  --  A Passage to India; The Flamingo Kid; Do the
                                   Right Thing
Social institutions  --  Fiddler on the Roof; Kramer vs. Kramer

I hope to use at least some of these when I eventually teach intro.  I think
it helps students develop their skill at seeing things sociologically.

Cheers,

Mike Maume


----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Michael O. Maume                 Voice: 504-388-1645
  Doctoral Candidate               Fax: 504-388-5102
  Department of Sociology          Email:  mmaume@lsuvm.sncc.lsu.edu
  126 Stubbs Hall
  Louisiana State University
  Baton Rouge, LA 70803