In this thread we discussed which films and tv episodes originally created solely for entertainment were repurposed by your teachers. Now is your chance to take over! What films or tv episodes would you repurpose for a particular class?
Not allowed: Generally any film for film class
Allowed: Films actually about filmmaking or filmmakers
Not allowed: Anything actually intended to be educational (driving accident movies, educational documentaries, drug scare movies, etc.)
Allowed: If you’re not sure where you saw it
Not allowed: Lifetime movies, “special episodes”, after school specials
Allowed: Unless you really have to, or the cheese/melodrama is at a minimum
Not allowed: Films for foreign language class which are English films dubbed in a foreign language
Allowed: Actual foreign language films, although try to be more creative than “it happens to be a good movie in that language”
Not allowed: The film version of the book you are reading for English class
Allowed: Spinoffs, sidestories, retellings, twists, etc.
*Where it says “film” you can substitute “tv episode” or other appropriate forms of entertainment (stage shows, etc). It can for any level of education, so don’t be afraid to include kiddie stuff (as long as it isn’t originally meant as purely edutainment), and more controversial college age stuff.
Mine:
Art:
I love the Van Gogh episode of Dr Who and think it really gets to the essence of art and Vincent himself.
The film Local Color is based on the real experiences of a teenaged painter who spent the summer learning from a renowned local artist.
Pleasantville (or maybe Health)
What Dreams May Come - afterlife lookslike a painting, and set design is generally artistic
The Cell - artistic set design, sets based on paintings
The Fall - artistic costumes and sets
English:
I loved the “Taming of the Shrew” episode of Moonlighting.
Any of the various ‘classic redone as teenage comedy/drama’ films would work - 10 Things, Cruel Intentions, O
Something about the life of a writer would be good but all I can think of is films about writers before they became writers.
The Princess Bride - about the joys and tropes of reading
Treasure Planet - futuristic version of Treasure Island
History:
Apocalypto. Pre Columbian history tend to focus on the North, so it’s nice to get some Southern action.
The Color Purple - period film
Pan’s Labyrinth - period film
Science:
Creator - about the joys and pitfalls of science
Splice - cautionary science
The Big Blue - joy of exploration
Contact - main character passionate scientist archetype
Nim’s Island (earlier grades) - science for kids
Young Einstein / I.Q. - irreverent and inaccurate but delightful Einstein
Math:
A Beautiful Mind - real life mathematician
Music:
Across the Universe - Beatles with a period story
Religion:
Se7en - seven sins
Name of the Rose - monastery period mystery
Theater:
Synechdoche NY - meta meta!
Health:
We were shown “Blue Lagoon” (reproduction) and “Breakfast Club” (socialization) but I’d like to think of something more recent.
Buffy’s “The Body” - death
Rent - Bohemian lifestyles, AIDS
Shortbus - sexuality
Y Tu Mama Tambien (or language) - teen socialization
Language:
“L’Auberge espagnole” (“The Spanish Apartment”) about a bunch of exchange students sharing an apartment in Spain. Mainly in French with English, Spanish, Catalan, Danish, German and Italian. A good film showing the experience of trying to fit in and learn the language in a foreign place.
“Rome” or “Spartacus” could add some spice to Latin class. But despite the endless “Odyssey” productions, there’s yet to be a real modern “Aeneid”. I’d love to see that done.
The Pillow Book - Asian language and culture
What category? These are pretty unique and have something to teach, but I’m not sure where they fit…
Drawing Restraint 9 - not even sure how to describe this
Memento - for it’s unique narrative technique