Those of you who were my students last year in AP American history recall that I ended the year with a mini unit on film. I showed "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "The Seventh Seal."
I am pursuing the same strategy this year, and my junior class just finished viewing "All Quiet..." My question is whether I should show "The Seventh Seal" next. I am leaning very much in favor of doing that, but I thought I'd ask you for your input. Any thoughts you have would be welcome, and interesting, I'm sure.
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I think showing The Seventh Seal next much like you did with our class last year would be very smart. Last year after watching All Quiet on the Western Front, although a very old and different type of war movie was still a movie that I could somewhat relate to.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when we watched The Seventh Seal, it was honestly unlike any film I'd ever seen. Not only was it from the 1950's, but it was also in B+W (not surprisingly), in Swedish, and about Death and a chess game. It was honestly one of the farthest things I could relate to, in concept and yet it was a great movie that I could relate to. It opened my eyes to a new type of film, so I would definitely show it again.
If you are looking for a different film, I guess I would suggest Runaway Train because it isn't too far out there and I think the kids would get it. Although it is possible that they haven't seen enough films to truly appreciate the art and meaning behind all of it.
I think you should definitely show the Seventh Seal again. I remember everyone really loved it last year, because it's more out-there plot really makes you think. Plus it's just an awesome movie, plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteI would have to respectfully disagree with James Cassidy's suggestion of showing "Runaway Train" instead of "The Seventh Seal." Unlike the former, the latter cannot be equated to any film the students could have previously seen. In all honestly, there are very few movies in the entire history of film, that could be accurately compared with the Seventh Seal.
ReplyDeleteAsssuming that the goal of teaching your mini unit on film is broaden their horizons & to open their young minds to newer ways of viewing the world around them, there no better way of achieving this goal then showing The Seventh Seal to your class. Unlike what could be a possibility in the case of you deciding to show Runaway Train, your less motivated students will not be able to just passively watch the movie and then completely zone out during your speeches about the deeper existential meaning that they should have noticed after watching the film. Instead, with the Seventh Seal, the students are actually forced to pay attention to every single line of dialogue within the movie. If they do not, they are not only wasting your time but also their's since they won't have a single clue about what is going on in the movie, let alone what the film represents symbolically. Runaway Train on the other hand, can be written off as "just another action movie" by a person with little-to-no interest in the art of film.
On a slightly lighter note, I was through browsing the channels the other day... Guess what black & white movie I found playing on TMC ("The Movie Channel")? You guessed it right - The Seventh Seal. If it wasn't for you showing it to us back in end of AP US History, I wouldn't have been aware of such a cinematic masterpiece - I would have probably continued watching whatever reality show seemed the most interesting. Instead, I gladly re-watched the entire film in it's entiretly. In addition, I probably wouldn't have realized the beauty of the film if it wasn't for the deep analysis made in class - if I stumbled upon the movie for the first time in my life, chances are I would have thought it to be "weird" and completely disregarded it. Don't you want them to have the same wonderful experience the next time they find themselves stumbling upon a cinematic masterpiece such as this one.
So the descision is yours Mr.Bennett, do you want to push them a little bit in order to hopefully instill a greater life-long appreciation of classic movies and film in general. (Not to mention that seeing this film will probably be the main thing they rememeber when foundly looking back at those High School days when they had ole' Mr.Bennett for history)
Well Yuriy, I was actually agreeing that Mr. Bennett should definitely show The Seventh Seal next but the only alternative that I would offer with equal merit would be Runaway Train, but I honestly think that The Seventh Seal opened my eyes more than any other movie I've seen, equal to 12 Angry Men.
ReplyDeleteI find it quite interesting that you watched the Seventh Seal again, I wish I could watch it again. I'll find it eventually.
I absolutely agree with all of your thoughts though on The Seventh Seal you are quite right in all regards.