Language and Culture

Movies

Movies and Language

Movies are an excellent way to pick up on the language that is being used by certain cultures

Movies are good way to learn how to react faster to a language that you are learning and in the process, pick up on words that you did not know before

Movies and Language

The language in movies varies from formal to slang depending on the time period that the movies is said to be taking place

The language in movies also varies depending on the location of the film

Example: High school, university

Movies and Language The language in movies will help

viewers understand the use of slang words in the proper context

Tone through movies you can see how the tone of certain words can change the meaning of that particular word

Example: are you crazy? Vs are you crazy? (1st= serious 2nd= joking)

Movies and Culture Movies are a great place to hear and

understand idioms Idioms are often used in movies in

order to provide cultural context Idioms are often associated with

culture and are a good way to understand the cultural group in which you are learning about during the movie

Movies and Culture Movies often showcase different

subcultures and their language In addition to the language of specific

subcultures, music is also paired with movies based on these subcultures

Oftentimes, movies have their own soundtracks that can be purchased during or after the movie is being shown in theatres

Movies and Culture Subcultures within movies are usually

paired with a specific type of genre or theme of a movie

If the subculture is not the main focus of the movie, the character in the movie will represent a certain type of person from a subculture

Example: the ditz, the gangster, the rocker, the surfer

Movies and Culture Most times, you will see a certain

subculture going to see movies that they best identify with

It is rare that you will see the older generation at a movie that is targeted at the younger generation and vice versa

There are movies that are suitable for family viewing which may not identify with any subculture in particular

Movies and Culture

Movies are a good way to get out of the house and do something fun

In order to lure people to the movies in the West, there is a cheap movie night (usually on Tuesdays) which is a half price of a regular movie ticket

Movies are a good way to bring the family together

Movies and Culture

Movies usually a first date activity They are seen as a good way to enjoy

someone else’s company without having to talk to much

This helps avoid a lot of awkward pauses and helps the two parties get comfortable with each other in a natural way

Discussion

Do you often go to see movies that you think are specifically targeted to you age group?

Do you go out of your way to see movies that you think are not targeted at your subculture or age group? If so, Why?

Jackass

Jackass Jackass appeals to males more so than

females American reality film, filled with stunts and

pranks Extreme crude humour (not very

intelligent) which does not appeal to everyone

Very vulgar and at times disgusting Appeals to the prankster and aquired

humour subculture

Jackass

Clueless

Clueless

Clueless is a film that appeals to girls This movie is said to have popularized

the “valley girl” subculture Based on superficial needs and wants

and caring about appearance more than anything else

Blue Crush

Blue Crush

This film appeals to the “surfer” subculture

Filled with common “surfer” terminology

This movie tries to depict the surfer lifestyle and mentality

Save the Last Dance

This movies deals with the inner-city lifestyles and the struggles of living in a poor neighbourhood

This movie focuses on the innercity subculture and the stresses of that kind of lifestyle

The Princess Diaries

Fairytale This movie deals with the typical

teenager who is often made fun of at school

The outcast wanting to be an insider Many students can relate to this type

of movie

Movie Themes/Genre

Romance or romantic usually refers to Romance (love), love emphasizing emotion

Romance: These movies usually focus on the search for true love after heartbreak and finding love in the right places

Example: Notebook (2004)

Biography These are movies that are either loosely or

heavily based on a person or a group of people

Most times, these movies come about after someone important has passed away or if someone has a very interesting story of how they became succesful

Ex: Justin Bieber (Never Say Never, Ray (Ray Charles)

Romantic Comedy

Romantic comedy films are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals

Romantic comedy films are a sub-genre of comedy films as well as of romance films

love story that ends happily

Romantic Comedy In a typical romantic comedy the two lovers

tend to be young, likeable, and apparently meant for each other, yet they are kept apart by some complicating circumstance (e.g., class differences, parental interference; a previous girlfriend or boyfriend) until, surmounting all obstacles, they are finally wed. A wedding-bells, fairy-tale-style happy ending is practically mandatory.[5]

Comedy Comedy film is a genre of film in which the

main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences. The comedy genre humorously exaggerate situations, the way of speaking, the action and characters.[1]

Horror Horror films are a movie genre seeking to

elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears.

They often feature scenes that startle the viewer 

Horror films deal with the viewer's nightmares, hidden worst fears, revulsions and terror of the unknown

Drama/Suspense To intrigue the imagination To have the audience participate in the movie by

trying to figure out the plot Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods giving

them a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and/or terror. Thriller films tend to be adrenaline-rushing, gritty,rousing and fast-paced. Literary devices such as red herrings, plot twists and cliffhangers are used extensively. A thriller is villain-driven plot, whereby he or she presents obstacles that the hero must overcome.[2][3]

Action Action film is a film genre where one or

more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases.

 character struggling against incredible odds such as, life-threatening situations, an evil villain, and/or being chased in several ways of transportation (car, bus, truck, etc.), with victory achieved at the end after difficult physical efforts and violence.

Inspirational Movies

These are movies that always start off with an upset but grow to overcome all obstacles with some bumps along the way

These movies usually send the message that you can succeed at anything that you put your mind to

Examples: Coach Carter/ Money Ball

Discussion

What type of movies do you like to watch the most and why?

Do you think that your subculture or age has anything to do with that?

5 minutes

Movie!

Money Ball