Trailer
Migrain Analysis
M: Lighting, high key/ low key lighting.Low angle shots have been used to make the suspects and the ones being targeted look low an helpless. It shows they do not have power whereas in other scenes we see high angle shots making superior people look as if they have power and are in total control of the situation and what is happening.Close up shot shave been used to enhance the audiences views on the facial expressions we see. These help the audience relate to what and how the characters feel making them engage with them emotionally.Long shots and medium shots help us as an audience to see what is actually going on in the mise-en-scene. We have a brief over view of what to expect.We see Students who are constantly shown related to violence one way or another, trying to fight for their 'racial' rights.Sound: Non digetic, yet parallel to scenes. Tense music with fast remix is used to pace up the trailer when we hear about more clues. This makes enigma codes.
I: Paramount pictures ( a large American instituion) this shows that the movie was a high budget film.
G: Crime genre, this is shown through all of the innocence killings of others and the way the issues are handled in society. There are scenes in the trailer which make us think that it does follow crime conventions. The dark and dimly set scences show us signs a drama movie would contain. The genre also follows an action genre. This is shown through the action we see in the trailer, We see students using guns, we hear gun shots. These props are conventions of the movie following the action genre. As well as physically, there is a lot of verbal abuse being shown, which once again highlights the action genre.
R: There are students from different ethnical minorities who are being stereotyped and have been represented in a negative way. There are many different negative stereotypes, these inlude the way youths are represented. Many of them are from middle class working backgrounds. Some lof them live in estate type houses.
A: The importance of a trailer is un-describable. This is the one source that will visually attract the movies target market to actually watch the film. On a whole, appeal to everyone, this means that it will appeal to a wide audience from different ethnical backgrounds. The trailer itself has a wide variety of actors, we see many different actors from differnt backgrounds including white and black people. Therefore the movie will also be targeted at these people. The mixture of different actors will also bring in more audience for the movie.
I:There are issues such like racial profiling which is covered by the movie. The movie gives the audience an overview of what we se through the protagonists eyes. The difficulties she has to face. The vilonce and youth crime involved shows us about how time has changed since racism has been around. The movie has such a huge point to look at, because of the fact that it is based ona true story. We constantly hear about racism and with negative stereotypes it makes it harder to believe what is real. The movies authenticity makes it a success because it follows such real life issues and situations.
N:The opening of the trailer starts with Eva walking out of her house andthen running after someone has attempted to shoot her. It all comes down to the colour of your skin is a quote from the trailer and this will help me in my independant study vastly.
Review 1
"based on a remarkable true story and backed up by a hip-hop score."
This review gave an insight about how successful Freedom Writers was and how it was based on a story. It expalins the authenticity of the actual movie and jhow the represenatations of studenst was increadibly remarkable. This review will help me in my independant study as the critic talked about the way the characters had put themselves on screen to be successful.
Review 2
"I like movies with hope. I like movies with stillness. And with movement. Of the Heart."
The critic talks abotu how again the film follows real life story and how successful it was put together as an on screen production. It talks wbout how he emotionally engaged with the characters because of the moving dialouges and scenes that were shown. In goes to show the damsel in stress type scenario and how the actors all followed corrupted ways of living changed for the good.
Review 3
"Freedom writers is the latest in a long line of white suburban teacher goes to the ghetto and saves gangbangers movie"
This critic talks about the narrative of the movie along with the book and hiostory of the actual Erin Gruwell and how she moved the youths of Long Beach atthat time to be commited to her, and her class rather than the life of crime that they folllowed. The critic explains how Hillary Swank actually met all targets of Erin Gruwell and met a demading and leading role. These reviews will help me in my independat study as i gathered infornation that would help me answer my qquestion effectively.
Monday
Research
Research topics
Media Studies AS + A2 by Jacquie Bennett, Published in 2005 Stereotypes - Pg 94
This page covers what the term stereotypes actually means; I found it important to understand the terms and its meanings better as my independant study can relate to stereotypes of people from ethnic backgrounds. I learnt that there are many different characteristics of stereotypes.Stereotypes are and have usually been used as terms to describe certain groups of people (black, white etc) Stereotypes can be anything from people to actual things. Groups which can be stereotyped are:Age, Sex, Race, Religion, Vocation, Nationality, Places and things.
Theorists to Consider - Pg 92/93 Propp = His attitudes and beliefs towards the usage of characters and certain character roles. Levi Strauss = Binary oppositions - Whites vs Blacks (racism) Rolande Barthes = Enigma codes, the way they are created and how they help the audience resolve the story. Todorov's Narrative structures.
Media Studies AS + A2 by Jacquie Bennett, Published in 2005 Stereotypes - Pg 94
This page covers what the term stereotypes actually means; I found it important to understand the terms and its meanings better as my independant study can relate to stereotypes of people from ethnic backgrounds. I learnt that there are many different characteristics of stereotypes.Stereotypes are and have usually been used as terms to describe certain groups of people (black, white etc) Stereotypes can be anything from people to actual things. Groups which can be stereotyped are:Age, Sex, Race, Religion, Vocation, Nationality, Places and things.
Theorists to Consider - Pg 92/93 Propp = His attitudes and beliefs towards the usage of characters and certain character roles. Levi Strauss = Binary oppositions - Whites vs Blacks (racism) Rolande Barthes = Enigma codes, the way they are created and how they help the audience resolve the story. Todorov's Narrative structures.
Erin Gruwell
"I asked them, 'How many of you have been shot at?' and at that moment all the kids raise their hands. Whether or not it was true, they had this bonding moment where they were pulling up their shirts and showing where they'd been knifed, and showing where they'd been hit."
This is Erin Gruwell, The teacher who helped all of the youths from Long Beach come together as one.
Extra Research
Research topics
Media Studies AS + A2 by Jacquie Bennett, Published in 2005
Stereotypes - Pg 94
This page covers what the term stereotypes actually means; I found it important to understand the terms and its meanings better as my independant study can relate to stereotypes of people from ethnic backgrounds. I learnt that there are many different characteristics of stereotypes.Stereotypes are and have usually been used as terms to describe certain groups of people (black, white etc) Stereotypes can be anything from people to actual things. Groups which can be stereotyped are:Age, Sex, Race, Religion, Vocation, Nationality, Places and things.
Theorists to Consider - Pg 92/93 Propp
= His attitudes and beliefs towards the usage of characters and certain character roles. Levi Strauss = Binary oppositions - Whites vs Blacks (racism) Rolande Barthes = Enigma codes, the way they are created and how they help the audience resolve the story. Todorov's Narrative structures.
Media Studies AS + A2 by Jacquie Bennett, Published in 2005
Stereotypes - Pg 94
This page covers what the term stereotypes actually means; I found it important to understand the terms and its meanings better as my independant study can relate to stereotypes of people from ethnic backgrounds. I learnt that there are many different characteristics of stereotypes.Stereotypes are and have usually been used as terms to describe certain groups of people (black, white etc) Stereotypes can be anything from people to actual things. Groups which can be stereotyped are:Age, Sex, Race, Religion, Vocation, Nationality, Places and things.
Theorists to Consider - Pg 92/93 Propp
= His attitudes and beliefs towards the usage of characters and certain character roles. Levi Strauss = Binary oppositions - Whites vs Blacks (racism) Rolande Barthes = Enigma codes, the way they are created and how they help the audience resolve the story. Todorov's Narrative structures.
Saturday
Key Concepts
Media Representations
Who is being represented?
There are many people from all types of backgrounds being represented in many different ways. We see Asian people, Black people, White people, People with proffesional careers, People following religion etc.The fact that I will base my independant study around people from different ethinic minorities will help me as I wil have a wider area to look at. This will benefit me in the sense that i have diffrerent backgrounds to talk about and compare them amongst each other.
In what way?
Some are represented in negative as well as others in positive. Some proffesionalist are shown as the good guys and some as the bad. The comparison of the different people will show how different people from different backgrounds have different beliefs and values. The beliefs and morals of a white person will be far different from an asian person.
By whom?
We are not shown the characters by any one specific person. But we do kind of see a lot through the a main protagonist (Eva- student) eyes as well as (Erin - Teacher). Erin is faced with hard decisions and many people feel she will side with people of her own ethnic background. She is constantly shown targeted about how she will make the wrong desicion by defending the 'wrong people.
Why is the subject being represented in this way?
As the movie is based on a true story, the director is trying to give us excatly that way for us to view the students and their struggles.
Is the representation fair and accurate?
The representation has been tried to be kept at a minimum, so no-one is really represented in a much more bad way however, the movie does constantly target the students on their race. They are always repeating the fact how important race is and constantly show them in a more negative light.
Media Languages and Forms
What are the denotative and connotative levels of meaning?
The connative meanigs are things like red for blood and killings. Most of the movie is based around racism and the fact that we see innocent people die in the beggining is literaly why the whole movie begins off. That is its starting point but every clue to the attacks leads to something else. Every clue shows how deadly dangerous it is to live in a neighbourhood where decdions are made based on your skin.
What is the significance of the text’s connotations?
The connotations are significant and play a vital role as without these it would be unclear to understand what the movie is trying to say and trying to get across to the audience. We see guns connatating violence killings and murder. Blood of those who lost the lives at the attacks and violence which was the root cause of racism.
What are the non-verbal structures of meaning in the text (e.g. gesture, facial expression, positional communication, clothing, props etc)?
Everything used in the texts literally matches up and fits in with the actual move. The actors have acted out and lead the roles extremely well which causes the movie to look as realistic as possible.The characters would all dress in an individual unique style because that is the way they would fit in to the followed role. As well as this, stereotypical roles (black people) are seen dressed in baggy jeans falling half way down their backs and long tops (the black males).
What is the significance of mise-en-scene/sets/settings?
If the mise-en-scene is not matching the narrative and what we feel should be going on on the screen the movie will totally confuse the audience and will not have no meaning at all.
What work is being done by the sound track/commentary/language of the text?
The movie contains a commentary of Eva at the start when she explains about Long Beach, the movie only contains soundtracks which kind of shows the damsel in distress type scenario,which makes you feel stressed in that specific situation as you engage and relate to the character and their situation so much.As well as the way this we also hear rap tracks which are also a big influence on the movie.
What are the dominant images and iconography, and what is their relevance to the major themes of the text?
We see how the proffesionalists have a more sense of power of authority. There job role and the way they are seen is dominant in the movie giving them a more glamouros type role.The teachers (proffesionalists) do give up on the students, this is shown in man scenes, and it makes them always look superior to teh students.
What sound and visual techniques are used to convey meaning (e.g. camera positioning, editing; the ways that images and sounds are combined to convey meaning)?
There is over a mixture of sound, the sound is diegetic at times as well as non-diegetic and parallel at others. The movie contains a lot of editing styles include fades and cuts with low angle shots making the subjects look superior to those whom have high angle shots making us as an audience look down upon them.
Narrative
How is the narrative organised and structured?
The narrative follows a non linear structure, the movie use flashback type scenes. There are scenes which talk about remembering the past, Eva remeniscing in teh scene where Erin questions them on why they hate each other so much, etc.
How is the audience positioned in relation to the narrative?
The audience almost once engages with the charachters on screen after the innocent man is shot infront of Eva whilst she is in a brief conversation with him and within a blink of an eye she hears gunshots and as soon as she turns back he's lying down on the floor dead. . We feel for the protagonist and see how much struggles she has to go through in order to be fair by choosing the right path.
How are characters delineated? What is their narrative function? How are heroes and villains created?
Some characters are shown as postive whilst others as negative. We see some characters with proffessional superior roles accusing and assuming for the wrong cause. Yet the students have alsost an unforgiving grudge against each other, where they would rather die than mix in with the person from another cast. There are many different twists in the story by the use of barthes enigma codes and the movie always leaves you at the edge of your feet. Heroes nd villains are created simply by what they do. The character who instantly is doing good for the public and community will be know as the hero and vice cersa for the villain.
What techniques of identification and alienation are employed? What is the role of such features as sound, music, iconography, genre, mise-en-scene, editing etc within the narrative?
There are different techinques to identify different people. We see it is easy to identify people who look as if they have a serious role and are commited to what they do but on the other hand it is sometimes literally impossible to actually knows whst lies in the heart of another character causing us to be confused and expect the unexpected
.What are the major themes of the narrative? What values/ideologies does it embody?
The actual narrative is all based around a true story. This is the one annd only theme the entire movie follows and it is at the heart of the movie. The values and beliefes are different of each character, some feel to do good with their environment whilst others bad.
Genre
To which genre does the text belong?
The text consists of two different mived genres these include Drama and Crime
What are the major generic conventions within the text?
That the movie will be to do with crime and will include a lot of violent scenes. It is obvious from the trailer that the film will be to do with killing - hence the way characters act aginst one another. The title itself, kind of gives an impression of how they are free to write, connoting hwo they are able to tell their story without facing any kind of consequences.
Who is being represented?
There are many people from all types of backgrounds being represented in many different ways. We see Asian people, Black people, White people, People with proffesional careers, People following religion etc.The fact that I will base my independant study around people from different ethinic minorities will help me as I wil have a wider area to look at. This will benefit me in the sense that i have diffrerent backgrounds to talk about and compare them amongst each other.
In what way?
Some are represented in negative as well as others in positive. Some proffesionalist are shown as the good guys and some as the bad. The comparison of the different people will show how different people from different backgrounds have different beliefs and values. The beliefs and morals of a white person will be far different from an asian person.
By whom?
We are not shown the characters by any one specific person. But we do kind of see a lot through the a main protagonist (Eva- student) eyes as well as (Erin - Teacher). Erin is faced with hard decisions and many people feel she will side with people of her own ethnic background. She is constantly shown targeted about how she will make the wrong desicion by defending the 'wrong people.
Why is the subject being represented in this way?
As the movie is based on a true story, the director is trying to give us excatly that way for us to view the students and their struggles.
Is the representation fair and accurate?
The representation has been tried to be kept at a minimum, so no-one is really represented in a much more bad way however, the movie does constantly target the students on their race. They are always repeating the fact how important race is and constantly show them in a more negative light.
Media Languages and Forms
What are the denotative and connotative levels of meaning?
The connative meanigs are things like red for blood and killings. Most of the movie is based around racism and the fact that we see innocent people die in the beggining is literaly why the whole movie begins off. That is its starting point but every clue to the attacks leads to something else. Every clue shows how deadly dangerous it is to live in a neighbourhood where decdions are made based on your skin.
What is the significance of the text’s connotations?
The connotations are significant and play a vital role as without these it would be unclear to understand what the movie is trying to say and trying to get across to the audience. We see guns connatating violence killings and murder. Blood of those who lost the lives at the attacks and violence which was the root cause of racism.
What are the non-verbal structures of meaning in the text (e.g. gesture, facial expression, positional communication, clothing, props etc)?
Everything used in the texts literally matches up and fits in with the actual move. The actors have acted out and lead the roles extremely well which causes the movie to look as realistic as possible.The characters would all dress in an individual unique style because that is the way they would fit in to the followed role. As well as this, stereotypical roles (black people) are seen dressed in baggy jeans falling half way down their backs and long tops (the black males).
What is the significance of mise-en-scene/sets/settings?
If the mise-en-scene is not matching the narrative and what we feel should be going on on the screen the movie will totally confuse the audience and will not have no meaning at all.
What work is being done by the sound track/commentary/language of the text?
The movie contains a commentary of Eva at the start when she explains about Long Beach, the movie only contains soundtracks which kind of shows the damsel in distress type scenario,which makes you feel stressed in that specific situation as you engage and relate to the character and their situation so much.As well as the way this we also hear rap tracks which are also a big influence on the movie.
What are the dominant images and iconography, and what is their relevance to the major themes of the text?
We see how the proffesionalists have a more sense of power of authority. There job role and the way they are seen is dominant in the movie giving them a more glamouros type role.The teachers (proffesionalists) do give up on the students, this is shown in man scenes, and it makes them always look superior to teh students.
What sound and visual techniques are used to convey meaning (e.g. camera positioning, editing; the ways that images and sounds are combined to convey meaning)?
There is over a mixture of sound, the sound is diegetic at times as well as non-diegetic and parallel at others. The movie contains a lot of editing styles include fades and cuts with low angle shots making the subjects look superior to those whom have high angle shots making us as an audience look down upon them.
Narrative
How is the narrative organised and structured?
The narrative follows a non linear structure, the movie use flashback type scenes. There are scenes which talk about remembering the past, Eva remeniscing in teh scene where Erin questions them on why they hate each other so much, etc.
How is the audience positioned in relation to the narrative?
The audience almost once engages with the charachters on screen after the innocent man is shot infront of Eva whilst she is in a brief conversation with him and within a blink of an eye she hears gunshots and as soon as she turns back he's lying down on the floor dead. . We feel for the protagonist and see how much struggles she has to go through in order to be fair by choosing the right path.
How are characters delineated? What is their narrative function? How are heroes and villains created?
Some characters are shown as postive whilst others as negative. We see some characters with proffessional superior roles accusing and assuming for the wrong cause. Yet the students have alsost an unforgiving grudge against each other, where they would rather die than mix in with the person from another cast. There are many different twists in the story by the use of barthes enigma codes and the movie always leaves you at the edge of your feet. Heroes nd villains are created simply by what they do. The character who instantly is doing good for the public and community will be know as the hero and vice cersa for the villain.
What techniques of identification and alienation are employed? What is the role of such features as sound, music, iconography, genre, mise-en-scene, editing etc within the narrative?
There are different techinques to identify different people. We see it is easy to identify people who look as if they have a serious role and are commited to what they do but on the other hand it is sometimes literally impossible to actually knows whst lies in the heart of another character causing us to be confused and expect the unexpected
.What are the major themes of the narrative? What values/ideologies does it embody?
The actual narrative is all based around a true story. This is the one annd only theme the entire movie follows and it is at the heart of the movie. The values and beliefes are different of each character, some feel to do good with their environment whilst others bad.
Genre
To which genre does the text belong?
The text consists of two different mived genres these include Drama and Crime
What are the major generic conventions within the text?
That the movie will be to do with crime and will include a lot of violent scenes. It is obvious from the trailer that the film will be to do with killing - hence the way characters act aginst one another. The title itself, kind of gives an impression of how they are free to write, connoting hwo they are able to tell their story without facing any kind of consequences.
Proposal
Main text - ‘Freedom Writers’
Title - ‘Does the movie Freedom Writers Represent Typical Stereotypes of People From Ethnical Backgrounds?'
Hypothesis - There are many different stereotypes, everyone in Long Beach is at war because of their race, the colour of their skin, it doesn't matter if your Black Asian or White, everyone sticks to their own kind.
M – Characters are young adults, shown at college and teh way they go about things in their everyday to day lives. How they feel, what they have to face, their strugles and determination to change. The movie is set in an urbanised area also referred to as 'The GHETTO'
I – Paramount pictures
G - Drama, Crime
R – The representation of youths is shown in negative ways. They are all shown leading and following a life of crime.
A- Primary audience are teenagers/young adults who may relate to what happens in the movie. As the movie is based on a true story it makes us aware of hwat happens in society and life. Parents are the secondary audience as they will see what youths of today are involved in.
I – The characters are all shown in negative ways. Boys and Girls are all judges on their race not skin, however some are shown weaker than others, the movie could be seen as male dominated..
N – The movie focuses on a student Eva, perhaps the main student protagonist, as well as the 23 year old teacher Erin Gruell. How Erin enters the lives of these broken individuals and trys making a big difference in changing the way they all feel aboutone another. We get a chance to see how they live and the difficulties they all have to face.
Wider context:
More issues are being raised in the society about how youths behave. The way they are shown behaving in Freedom Writers would not be accepted today.The representation of youths has changed so much since the past where all youths were concerned about was to gain a good education which would benefit them to have a good future, but this movie shows the complete opposite.
Theorists: Prop- The hero is Erin because she is shown as one of the protagonist. she faces many difficulties and has to go through rough times (mainly because of the way the students act towards her. Although after she is shown as a very good role model)
Levi Strauss - Binary Opposition is shown between Asians and Blacks etc
Other texts:Coach Carter(2005) - Shows relevant issues, especially teh way how the students in that movie lead a gang related life as well. The film follows freedom Writers as it involves gun crime and drugs as well as racial issues.
Title - ‘Does the movie Freedom Writers Represent Typical Stereotypes of People From Ethnical Backgrounds?'
Hypothesis - There are many different stereotypes, everyone in Long Beach is at war because of their race, the colour of their skin, it doesn't matter if your Black Asian or White, everyone sticks to their own kind.
M – Characters are young adults, shown at college and teh way they go about things in their everyday to day lives. How they feel, what they have to face, their strugles and determination to change. The movie is set in an urbanised area also referred to as 'The GHETTO'
I – Paramount pictures
G - Drama, Crime
R – The representation of youths is shown in negative ways. They are all shown leading and following a life of crime.
A- Primary audience are teenagers/young adults who may relate to what happens in the movie. As the movie is based on a true story it makes us aware of hwat happens in society and life. Parents are the secondary audience as they will see what youths of today are involved in.
I – The characters are all shown in negative ways. Boys and Girls are all judges on their race not skin, however some are shown weaker than others, the movie could be seen as male dominated..
N – The movie focuses on a student Eva, perhaps the main student protagonist, as well as the 23 year old teacher Erin Gruell. How Erin enters the lives of these broken individuals and trys making a big difference in changing the way they all feel aboutone another. We get a chance to see how they live and the difficulties they all have to face.
Wider context:
More issues are being raised in the society about how youths behave. The way they are shown behaving in Freedom Writers would not be accepted today.The representation of youths has changed so much since the past where all youths were concerned about was to gain a good education which would benefit them to have a good future, but this movie shows the complete opposite.
Theorists: Prop- The hero is Erin because she is shown as one of the protagonist. she faces many difficulties and has to go through rough times (mainly because of the way the students act towards her. Although after she is shown as a very good role model)
Levi Strauss - Binary Opposition is shown between Asians and Blacks etc
Other texts:Coach Carter(2005) - Shows relevant issues, especially teh way how the students in that movie lead a gang related life as well. The film follows freedom Writers as it involves gun crime and drugs as well as racial issues.
Friday
Extra Research
Represenation of Youths
This link shows basic information about how teenagers are being steretyped continuosly. They are continuously represented in negative ways and are seen as an easy target.
Teenage Males
This link is also an article form the Daily mirror. It talks about how a teenage boy shot down 7 people. This kind of relates to the text because of the fact that we could see theh young adults in this movie going to extreme lengths because of difficult situations.
Young Male Adults
This link explains how youths are being attacked and demonised everyday over issues which could be a very small thing being turned into something major because of the fact that they want to target these youths in a negative way. This is an article which shows how there is nothing.
Femme Fatale
This link explains where the word originated from. It is a term used to explain women who use their sexuality to gain what they need. This is wise information to use in terms of research and being able to Link it back to my actual study as there are some youth scenes in the material which feel as if they are there for the male gaze.
Race Relations/Stereotypes
This link explains a little about what stereotypes really are and how they are not all negative stereotypes/ This will help me with my independent study because of the fact that most of my study is actually based around Stereotypes.
This link shows basic information about how teenagers are being steretyped continuosly. They are continuously represented in negative ways and are seen as an easy target.
Teenage Males
This link is also an article form the Daily mirror. It talks about how a teenage boy shot down 7 people. This kind of relates to the text because of the fact that we could see theh young adults in this movie going to extreme lengths because of difficult situations.
Young Male Adults
This link explains how youths are being attacked and demonised everyday over issues which could be a very small thing being turned into something major because of the fact that they want to target these youths in a negative way. This is an article which shows how there is nothing.
Femme Fatale
This link explains where the word originated from. It is a term used to explain women who use their sexuality to gain what they need. This is wise information to use in terms of research and being able to Link it back to my actual study as there are some youth scenes in the material which feel as if they are there for the male gaze.
Race Relations/Stereotypes
This link explains a little about what stereotypes really are and how they are not all negative stereotypes/ This will help me with my independent study because of the fact that most of my study is actually based around Stereotypes.
Freedom Writers - A TRUE Story
True Facts
This link has information about How the Freedom Writers actually came about. It was all based on a true story, the scenes in the movie are all related to real events that took place and have been edited in a way that we still get the same message across of what happened all those years back.
This link helped me understand moe about the film and how serious the issues in the movie are. The authenticity of the movie is literally unbelievable and after viewing This site i finally understood why. Because everything flows from one real life incident to another.
This link has information about How the Freedom Writers actually came about. It was all based on a true story, the scenes in the movie are all related to real events that took place and have been edited in a way that we still get the same message across of what happened all those years back.
This link helped me understand moe about the film and how serious the issues in the movie are. The authenticity of the movie is literally unbelievable and after viewing This site i finally understood why. Because everything flows from one real life incident to another.
Synopsis
Fresh-faced, idealistic twenty-three-year-old Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) is ready to take on the world as she steps inside Wilson High School for her first day of teaching. Her class, a diverse group of racially charged teenagers from different walks of life - African Americans, Latinos, Asians, juvenile delinquents, gang members, and underprivileged students from poor neighborhoods - hope for nothing more than to make it through the day. On the surface, the only thing they share is their hatred for each other and the understanding that they are simply being warehoused in the educational system until they are old enough to disappear. Despite her students' obstinate refusal to participate during class, Erin tries various means to engage them on a daily basis.
But then ghetto reality steps in to focus the picture. A racially motivated gang shooting witnessed by a Latina gang member in Erin's class, and an an ugly racial cartoon that Erin intercepts during class, become the most unwittingly dynamic teaching aids. They spark a transformation in the classroom, compel them to listen and force her to take off her idealistic blinders and take in the kids' survival stories of their undeclared war on the streets. Erin begins to connect with them. She brings in music from the 'Hood, and literature from another kind of ghetto, The Diary of Anne Frank, and with these simple tools she opens her students' eyes to the experiences of those suffering intolerance throughout the world and the struggles of those outside their own communities.
Knowing that every one of her students has a story to tell, Erin encourages them to keep a daily journal of their thoughts and experiences. After sharing their stories with one another, the students see their shared experience for the first time and open up to the idea that there are possibilities in life outside of making it to the age of eighteen. Based on a true story, "Freedom Writers" is an inspirational tale and testimony to courage, hope and the human spirit's triumph over intolerance. As the students' diaries transform from schoolwork into life preservers, Gruwell's commitment to them grows and affects her in ways she did not imagine.
But then ghetto reality steps in to focus the picture. A racially motivated gang shooting witnessed by a Latina gang member in Erin's class, and an an ugly racial cartoon that Erin intercepts during class, become the most unwittingly dynamic teaching aids. They spark a transformation in the classroom, compel them to listen and force her to take off her idealistic blinders and take in the kids' survival stories of their undeclared war on the streets. Erin begins to connect with them. She brings in music from the 'Hood, and literature from another kind of ghetto, The Diary of Anne Frank, and with these simple tools she opens her students' eyes to the experiences of those suffering intolerance throughout the world and the struggles of those outside their own communities.
Knowing that every one of her students has a story to tell, Erin encourages them to keep a daily journal of their thoughts and experiences. After sharing their stories with one another, the students see their shared experience for the first time and open up to the idea that there are possibilities in life outside of making it to the age of eighteen. Based on a true story, "Freedom Writers" is an inspirational tale and testimony to courage, hope and the human spirit's triumph over intolerance. As the students' diaries transform from schoolwork into life preservers, Gruwell's commitment to them grows and affects her in ways she did not imagine.
Freedom Writers - Proposal
Does the movie Freedom Writers Represent Typical Stereotypes of People From Ethnical Backgrounds?
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Stars: April Lee, Hilary Swank
Genre: Drama, Crime
Length: 123 minutes
Cinema: 2 March 2007
Country: UK
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Stars: April Lee, Hilary Swank
Genre: Drama, Crime
Length: 123 minutes
Cinema: 2 March 2007
Country: UK
Trailer
This is the Movie trailer which was aired on tv to give us a taster of what the movie would be. I have chosen to add this clip so you can get an overview and breif outline about the movie.
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