For my film teaching activity, I have decided to use the introduction of Minority Report to show to the students during their reading George Orwell’s 1984.
I came up with idea on one of the first days of class after Professor Beach showed us the introduction to Minority Report and told us to study the techniques the director uses to portray certain things. While viewing the movie, I could not help but think that it was showing exactly what Orwell had predicted in his novel about government control in citizens’ lives.
Step One: Show first 10 minutes of clip (10 minutes)
I think that this would be a good clip to show to students after reading the first chapter in the book. This book can be very dense, and I think that showing this after the first chapter will spark their interest, and give them a visual representation of government control, and a way to understand the sentiments that Winston is feeling towards his particular situation. To begin, I would show the clip and ask the students to take note of context questions such as, when they think this movie is taking place. In addition, I will want for them to include in their personal notes what they perceive to be happening in the introduction of this movie, and to be prepared to discuss it after the clip.
Step Two: Discuss clip (10 minutes)
Step Three: Small group activity (25 minutes)
After discussion, I would ask students to do meet in groups of 3 or 4 to talk about the following prompt: In what ways is the introduction to the movie Minority Report similar to how Winston feels as he nervously writes in his diary in chapter one? How are the Thought Police similar to the Pre-Crime Police in the movie? Include specific examples/quotes from your reading and parts of the introduction that you watched.
Each group will respond to this prompt with ONE hand-written group copy in no more than TWO pages to turn into me for credit.
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