Today we watched several more skits from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. You continued to log the scenes you watched and we discussed into your charts.
Hint: At the end of this movie, we will be doing some research on topics presented in the film. If there is a topic from the Middle Ages, or English history or literature, keep it in the back of your mind for further research.
Tomorrow, Sept 24, is reading period.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Fall of Rome through the Middle Ages
Period 4: We discussed reasons for the fall of Rome. Your homework was to read through an article I gave you on the subject and highlight or underline the reasons for the fall of Rome and attach it to your notebook.
We are moving forward from the period of the sacking of Rome through to the Middle Ages, where we will examine a classic, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." You must have a special sense of humor to appreciate this one, but it is an excellent non-example of history. The costumes are terrible, and the humor is high level--you must understand the history to understand the jokes.
Assignment: Fill in the chart you were given in class. It has columns for you to label the scene, add a quick summary, and fill in the historical errors. This chart will serve instead of your daily summary. You may include analysis of the King Arthur themes from literature as well for our class discussion.
We are moving forward from the period of the sacking of Rome through to the Middle Ages, where we will examine a classic, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." You must have a special sense of humor to appreciate this one, but it is an excellent non-example of history. The costumes are terrible, and the humor is high level--you must understand the history to understand the jokes.
Assignment: Fill in the chart you were given in class. It has columns for you to label the scene, add a quick summary, and fill in the historical errors. This chart will serve instead of your daily summary. You may include analysis of the King Arthur themes from literature as well for our class discussion.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Gladiator assessment: per 4
Period 4 will be presenting the facts that were found in the movie, and we will then discuss how good this film was from the historical and entertainment perspectives.
Homework question: If you had been hired instead of Ridley Scott (the filmmaker) would you have portrayed events differently? Would you have focused on history, characterization, entertainment, sensationalism--how would you have made this film and what would the finished version look like?
Homework question: If you had been hired instead of Ridley Scott (the filmmaker) would you have portrayed events differently? Would you have focused on history, characterization, entertainment, sensationalism--how would you have made this film and what would the finished version look like?
Monday, September 15, 2008
Gladiator vocabulary
What would a movie about ancient Rome be without a bunch of vocabulary for your enrichment? These terms will most likely be on a quiz soon in the future (hint).
Republic: citizens who have the right to elect their leaders
Senate: the elected governing body of Rome during the age of the Republic
Consul: two men who lead the government to avoid one gaining too much power
Veto: the right to reject a law or bill
Dictator: an official with all the powers of the king who could only hold power in the name of the king for 6 months
province: an area with it's own government and army which was ruled by Rome
aqueducts: structure that carried water over long distances
anarchy: chaos resulting in lack of government rule
coliseum: large stadium used for entertainment, sports, and cultural events.
Pax Romana: The Roman peace that lasted from Caesar Augustus in 27BC to Marcus Aurelius in 180AD
Pater-familias: family structure. The oldest living male had nearly complete power over his family.
legion: basic unit of the Roman army, which consisted of about 5000 soldiers
plebian: a member of the Roman lower-class, which included artisans, merchants, and farmers.
patrician: the Roman upper-class from which senators were elected.
forum: main marketplace in Rome.
Ptolemy: astronomer who declared Rome the center of the universe.
Barbarians: non-Romans who were considered inferior
pagans: literally means "rustic." Romans considered non-Christians rustic (or hick) and the label became a religious term.
Republic: citizens who have the right to elect their leaders
Senate: the elected governing body of Rome during the age of the Republic
Consul: two men who lead the government to avoid one gaining too much power
Veto: the right to reject a law or bill
Dictator: an official with all the powers of the king who could only hold power in the name of the king for 6 months
province: an area with it's own government and army which was ruled by Rome
aqueducts: structure that carried water over long distances
anarchy: chaos resulting in lack of government rule
coliseum: large stadium used for entertainment, sports, and cultural events.
Pax Romana: The Roman peace that lasted from Caesar Augustus in 27BC to Marcus Aurelius in 180AD
Pater-familias: family structure. The oldest living male had nearly complete power over his family.
legion: basic unit of the Roman army, which consisted of about 5000 soldiers
plebian: a member of the Roman lower-class, which included artisans, merchants, and farmers.
patrician: the Roman upper-class from which senators were elected.
forum: main marketplace in Rome.
Ptolemy: astronomer who declared Rome the center of the universe.
Barbarians: non-Romans who were considered inferior
pagans: literally means "rustic." Romans considered non-Christians rustic (or hick) and the label became a religious term.
Period 4 Gladiator Assessment
Find five to ten things that you think are historically inaccurate OR that you think were portrayed exceptionally well in the movie “The Gladiator.”
You may use the internet, books or magazines. If you happen to be a Latin scholar or expert on Ancient Rome, all the better.
Hint: You may find the following website very helpful.
http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/index.html
You will use the chart I have provided for you, or you will create one on your own.
On the due date, you will present one or two facts that you found.
You may use the internet, books or magazines. If you happen to be a Latin scholar or expert on Ancient Rome, all the better.
Hint: You may find the following website very helpful.
http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/index.html
You will use the chart I have provided for you, or you will create one on your own.
On the due date, you will present one or two facts that you found.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Gladiator: Period 4
We have begun to watch and study about Gladiator.
In your notebook, you should have a cast of characters that represents different segments of Roman society from the Caesar to the gladiator/slaves. We are discussing aspects of Roman society throughout the film, and when it ends, we will debate the historical accuracy of the film as a whole as well as individual parts. We will also watch a documentary about gladiators in Rome.
In your notebook, you should have a cast of characters that represents different segments of Roman society from the Caesar to the gladiator/slaves. We are discussing aspects of Roman society throughout the film, and when it ends, we will debate the historical accuracy of the film as a whole as well as individual parts. We will also watch a documentary about gladiators in Rome.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Conclusion: Bobby
Homework: Watch Senator Kennedy's speeches on You tube. Be prepared to discuss the content of the speech and what your thoughts and feelings were about the speech. Take notes in your notebook.
Freshmen: Many of you missed the first homework assignment, which was to write one to three short paragraphs comparing what you have seen in the movie “Bobby” to the situation in America today.
Period 4: Expect a quiz in the next few days based on the movie and our discussions.
Themes we have seen and discussed so far:
The war in Vietnam: many people were being drafted to go to Vietnam. We see a young girl promising to marry her friend because if he is married he will be sent to Germany and not to the front lines in Vietnam. She does not agree with the war and feels that she can save a life.
The campaign workers—one pair is working really hard to get people to vote for Senator Kennedy, and the other pair is goofing off. The 1960’s had many elements of drug culture and people who were against “the establishment” and structure of the 1950’s.
The Hippie—Ashton Kutcher plays a great hippie. Hippies were famous for being part of the counter culture, the drug culture, for trying to save the environment, and for protesting the Vietnam war.
Marriage and family—Lindsay Lohan’s character, Diane, was in trouble with her family for marrying her boyfriend for political purposes. Her boyfriend wasn’t sure they should go through with the marriage because he felt that it was unfair to her—marriage is sacred and they should only get married once. The hairdresser and Mr. Fallon both stayed in unhappy marriages because society did not allow divorce.
The Senator—represented hope, a bridging of differences across racial and economic groups in American society, and the change that the country needed. People from many different groups were looking toward Bobby Kennedy as the great American hope to resolve the problems of society.
Freshmen: Many of you missed the first homework assignment, which was to write one to three short paragraphs comparing what you have seen in the movie “Bobby” to the situation in America today.
Period 4: Expect a quiz in the next few days based on the movie and our discussions.
Themes we have seen and discussed so far:
The war in Vietnam: many people were being drafted to go to Vietnam. We see a young girl promising to marry her friend because if he is married he will be sent to Germany and not to the front lines in Vietnam. She does not agree with the war and feels that she can save a life.
The campaign workers—one pair is working really hard to get people to vote for Senator Kennedy, and the other pair is goofing off. The 1960’s had many elements of drug culture and people who were against “the establishment” and structure of the 1950’s.
The Hippie—Ashton Kutcher plays a great hippie. Hippies were famous for being part of the counter culture, the drug culture, for trying to save the environment, and for protesting the Vietnam war.
Marriage and family—Lindsay Lohan’s character, Diane, was in trouble with her family for marrying her boyfriend for political purposes. Her boyfriend wasn’t sure they should go through with the marriage because he felt that it was unfair to her—marriage is sacred and they should only get married once. The hairdresser and Mr. Fallon both stayed in unhappy marriages because society did not allow divorce.
The Senator—represented hope, a bridging of differences across racial and economic groups in American society, and the change that the country needed. People from many different groups were looking toward Bobby Kennedy as the great American hope to resolve the problems of society.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
"Bobby"
The goal of this film is to compare and contrast the turbulent political and social environment of the 1968 election season with the conditions we are experiencing now.
1. Make note of the main characters in the film. What do they represent as either segments of society or as real people present at the Ambassador Hotel on the day of the Kennedy assassination?
2. What did Bobby Kennedy represent to the American people? How was he able to get the respect and support of otherwise different groups of Americans?
3. Why was Bobby Kennedy assassinated, and do you think that this is, in fact what happened?
4. Where did the movie portray historical events accurately, and where do you feel it strayed from history?
5. What do you think the filmmaker's outlook on this film was? What style did he use in making this film and did it help accomplish his objectives?
6. Based on what you have learned about Kennedy and this time in history, how would events have progressed differently had Kennedy been elected?
Period 4: Homework: You compared events from the beginning of this film to events in this election.
1. Make note of the main characters in the film. What do they represent as either segments of society or as real people present at the Ambassador Hotel on the day of the Kennedy assassination?
2. What did Bobby Kennedy represent to the American people? How was he able to get the respect and support of otherwise different groups of Americans?
3. Why was Bobby Kennedy assassinated, and do you think that this is, in fact what happened?
4. Where did the movie portray historical events accurately, and where do you feel it strayed from history?
5. What do you think the filmmaker's outlook on this film was? What style did he use in making this film and did it help accomplish his objectives?
6. Based on what you have learned about Kennedy and this time in history, how would events have progressed differently had Kennedy been elected?
Period 4: Homework: You compared events from the beginning of this film to events in this election.
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