Posted on 05/18/2004 6:12:09 PM PDT by SpyGuy
Does Hollywood use schools and teachers to pimp movies to young children? I suspect that they do. We already know that companies provide schools with products and supplies in exchange for in-class advertising and promotion.
The following is a true story. (Although, in writing this, I have undoubtedly improved upon the grammar of the responses I received from the children.)
Yesterday, I was talking to a friend's third-grade daughter about her school curriculum. I asked her what she was studying this week.
"The Greeks," she said.
I asked further, "Why are you studying the Greeks and what are you learning about them?" I thought, perhaps, that she would tell me that her class was progressing through history and was currently learning about the classical period.
"I don't know. We're not really studying them. We're, like, just learning a few stories," she replied.
At that point, her fifth-grade sister walked into the room. So I asked the older girl what she was studying.
"The Greeks," came her answer.
I probed further. "What are you learning about the Greeks," I asked the older sister.
She carefully explained, "Well, I don't know. We're not really, you know, learning about them. We're just, like, talking about what they did and stuff."
Hmmm. I could see that the public school system (in this very expensive, upper-class suburban neighborhood) was doing a superb job of "educating" these youngsters. Perhaps if they could give me an example of the work they were doing in class, I could get a better idea of what they were learning. The younger sister volunteered an example:
"Well, our teacher divided us into groups of two kids each. And each group has to make a movie poster about a Greek story for Open House. My partner and I are making a movie poster about 'Jason and the Golden Fleece.' We have to write a the name of the story at the top of the poster, and then write little sayings around the picture to make the other kids want to see this movie."
Neither child could offer a reason as to why they were studying the Greeks this week. No logical progression though a syllabus. No tie-in to other class work. They simply had no idea why they were studying the Greeks (let alone, what they were being taught).
Was it just a coincidence that both girls--from two different age groups, in two different classes, with two different teachers--would be studying the Greeks the very same week? It was as if, out of the blue, both teachers decided that this week would be a great time to learn about the Greeks.
Oh, yeah. And the movie "Troy" opened last Friday.
Amazing. Free PR from the innocent.
Do you have a job?
You wrote this? I believe this. It's SCARY...
Of course, I am exaggerating for effect. But what does Jason and the Golden Fleece have to do with Troy? I think the "message" might be a bit too subliminal for kids.
"Do you have a job?"
...huh?
There is nothing scary about this at all. In Texas, our students study world civilizations in 6th grade-- including the Egyptians and the Greeks-- among others. [The language arts teachers have them read mythology of the culture involved at the same time.] One of the projects for students is to create a poster such as the one you describe above. The little sayings that go on it are supposed to be interesting facts that the little girl learned about her mythological character. Other kids in the class choose other characters and do a similar activity. Probably they will give a report to the class. This way they share with each other what they've learned. Texas sixth graders have been learning about Greek mythology and civilization since long before Brad Pitt showed up in his second-rate movie. Find a new conspiracy theory. This one is dead on the launchpad.
P. S. Do you have a job??
I know teachers in Kansas assign movies as homework. R-rated movies.
Yes. And the reason for your question is...?
Why didn't you call the school and ask?
Sorry, can't go with your theory. These are 3rd and 5th grade children. I can remember "kids" in high school not understanding why they were studying algebra. And I don't think there were any movies involved.
Aliens dressed like Elvis are trying to eat my braaaaaaaaaaain!
I don't see anything wrong with using current events and pop culture to teach history if it will help grab a students interest. I homeschool my kids and I think the flexibility we have to do that sort of thing is an advantage.
First thing, they were not specifically studying "Jason" per se. One of the girls was assigned to make a movie poster from a list of Greek stories and she chose the story of "Jason."
But lest you still think that these children did not have but one single subject on their little academic minds, let's recap the conversation.
I simply asked both girls (independently, since the older girl wasn't in the room when I first asked the younger child) what were they studying in school this week.
They did not say English.
They did not say math.
They did not say science.
They did not say history.
They did not even say "Jason and the Golden Fleece."
Both simply answered, "The Greeks." No more, no less. (Until I question further.)
That's not very subliminal in my book. Besides, you should realize that subliminal advertising works best when it is, well, subliminal. Even today's dumbed-down children can perform some mental association. If they couldn't do you think Madison Avenue would be spending so many millions of dollars on advertising to children?
Besides, I suspect that the real targets are not the young children, but rather the parents who will undoubtedly get the idea that taking the family to see the latest and greatest movie about "The Greeks" (now playing in a theater near you), will be a great way to help their little darlings with their school work.
Are you members of the National Education Association?
Obviously you have no idea whatsoever of the level of thinking of 3rd and 5th graders. Details that you as an adult consider important are of little consequence to them at their age. They were telling you, probably, the things in school that they were doing that were of most interest to them. I'm willing to lay you a money bet that their teachers haven't dropped all of their other subjects in order to try and lure them and their families to the movies.
But "Troy" is rated R. Why would they be aiming subliminal messages at 3rd graders? 5th, maybe, maybe. Not 3rd graders.
Anyway, if you ask what they're studying "this week", they'll tell you the thing that is specific to this week. They do math every week, I hope. "The Greeks" is the newest thing for them to learn.
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