Activities
Companies and organizations like Colombia Picture Company and the History Channel like to portray the American Revolution in different ways. They do not usually change the portrayal of the military, but they like to change how diplomats and the "common" people, meaning not officers of the Continental Army. These organizations also like to change the portrayal of the British. So to show the British point of view, the others to show American stereotypes and opinions of the British. The point of these assignments are to give a general idea about how important the Revolution was to some people, mostly the American side. I will also be handing out a sheet that you will be filling out as you go along in the movie and show. I want you to also write down on a separate sheet of paper the answers to questions I asked you early about for the movie and show (write down at least 10).
In-Class Assignments
Movie:
In class we will be watching select clips from the Colombia Picture Company's the Patriot, with Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger. As you are watching the movie I want to to notice how the "common" people are being portrayed. I do not mean to completely disregard the people that are in the armed forces. I want you to take a look at how the people are treated by the soldiers and how and why the "common" people are draw to the military. What do you think that they were feeling.
History Channel:
In class we will also will be watching a show from the History Channel. The important part about this show is that it will be going over the underlying cause, the multiple causes, the battles, and the results of the American Revolution. It will also, through explaining the battles it will also describe the leaders involved in the American Revolution. But I want you to focus on the differences of the this show and the movie.
Out of Class Assignments
Movie and History Channel Show:
Using what you wrote down in class about the portrayal of the different people, both American and British, I want to turn in for homework a list of 10, or more, ideas of how these two different sources portrayed the people.
Also I want to also describe whether you think this a correct portrayal or not. Make sure to use complete sentences, and also to list which portrayal was from which part, the movie or the History Channel show.
