The effectiveness of inspiring films is emphasized in the documentary by an anecdote about Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. A young man in prison was contemplating suicide. After watching Capra's film, he changed his mind and later wrote and shared his story with Capra. Imagine knowing that a movie you made saved a life and restored hope to a desperate young person.
The opposite is also true. Think of the impact of the suicide-glorifying NETFLIX series, Thirteen Reasons Why, that resulted in an uptick in teen suicides after its release. One mom warned parents after her daughter, Jessica, killed herself two days before her thirteenth birthday leaving a list of six reasons why she did it. She and her friends were watching the series and, leading up to the suicide, Jessica was cutting herself.
Onalee has a series of study guides to accompany the films. I'm thinking of asking my homeschooling daughter if she'd like me to do a class with her two older girls. For them I would choose The Feminine Soul: Classic Hollywood Women in Focus. I think her boys are a bit young yet, but maybe when they're a little older (If I'm around that long.) we can do Men of the West: Classic Western Heroes and the Examined Life.
This could be a family project for parents and their older children. Think of the fun of scheduling a weekly or bi-weekly popcorn night watching the movies and using the guides to explore the issues these films raise about friendship, courage, prudence, justice, compassion, resilience, and many other virtues. Teens, who are so visually oriented these days, are exposed to so much trash that using classic movies with positive messages makes sense.
Watch the documentary to get a better idea of what the series offers. I'd like to see Onalee do a study guide on the blockbuster religious films that Hollywood did so well in years gone by and that independent filmmakers are now producing: The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, Barabbas, Joan of Arc, Song of Bernadetter, Passion of the Christ, etc. One of my favorites is the Italian film with English subtitles about St. Philip Neri, I Prefer Heaven.
Film and TV can be an effective educational tool when used with prudence. Check out the documentary and see what you think.
This looks great Mary Ann. My wife and I are always struggling to find a good movie to watch. We prefer classic films so this will be perfect.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Esolen, a Catholic professor and author, produces an educational website with his wife, titled Word and Song. He recommends old movies and discusses his reasoning. I have watched several of his suggestions. He also presents hymns and poetry of the past. He has a free podcast, and for those interested, there is a paid version. I have shared movie suggestions with my sons and their families. It sounds like a less formal presentation than The Art of Classic Film, and it includes poetry and hymns, but it sounds as if the goals are similar. I look forward to checking out the Intitute's website!
ReplyDeleteWe love these classic movies. We are always trying to find wholesome content that we can watch. One movie we particularly enjoyed was Duma, directed by Carroll Ballard with Campbell Scott. Not classic as in from the 1940s or 1950s, but, surprisingly, from 2005. Thanks for the information about Anthony Esolen and Dr. Onalee McGraw. I've bookmarked their respective websites.
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