Historical Thinking Skills

Historical Thinking Skills--19th century art and the individual

Slide 1: • Title slide with the presentation topic: "Understanding Context in Film Analysis" Slide 2: • Introduction to the importance of context in film analysis. • Engaging visuals to capture students' attention. • Emphasize that context provides a deeper understanding of a film's meaning. Slide 3: • Definition of Context: • Context refers to the surrounding circumstances or conditions that influence the creation, interpretation, and reception of a film. • Analyzing context helps uncover layers of meaning, societal influences, and enhances critical thinking skills. Slide 4: • Historical Context: • Definition: Historical context refers to the specific time period in which a film was created and/or set. • Importance: Understanding the historical context helps us connect the film to its time period and comprehend the influence of historical events, social norms, and cultural movements. • Example: Analyzing the historical context of "Gone with the Wind" (1939) allows us to appreciate how the film reflects the post-Civil War era in the United States and addresses themes of race, class, and gender. Slide 5: • Social Context: • Definition: Social context refers to the social structures, norms, and values prevalent during the time of a film's creation and/or setting. • Importance: Examining the social context helps us understand how societal attitudes and values shape the film's narrative, characters, and themes. • Example: Analyzing the social context of "The Breakfast Club" (1985) reveals how the film explores the social dynamics and stereotypes within a high school setting, reflecting the cultural climate of the 1980s. Slide 6: • Political Context: • Definition: Political context refers to the political climate and ideologies present during the time of a film's creation and/or setting. • Importance: Understanding the political context helps us uncover political messages, power dynamics, and social commentary within the film. • Example: Examining the political context of "V for Vendetta" (2005) allows us to appreciate how the film critiques totalitarianism and explores themes of government control and individual freedom. Slide 7: • Authorial/Directorial Context: • Definition: Authorial/Directorial context refers to the background, artistic choices, and intentions of the director or filmmaker. • Importance: Analyzing this context helps us understand the director's unique vision, influences, and storytelling techniques, which shape the film's style and thematic focus. • Example: Exploring the authorial/directorial context of "Pulp Fiction" (1994) reveals Quentin Tarantino's nonlinear storytelling, pop culture references, and exploration of morality and violence. Slide 8: • Importance of considering multiple contexts together: • Analyzing multiple contexts together provides a comprehensive understanding of a film's meaning and impact. • Exploring the interplay between historical, social, political, and authorial/directorial contexts deepens our insights and enhances critical analysis skills. Slide 9: • Case studies: • Present two different films as case studies. • Example 1: Analyzing the historical context, social context, and authorial/directorial context of "Black Panther" (2018) provides insights into its exploration of Afrofuturism, cultural identity, and representation. • Example 2: Examining the historical context, political context, and authorial/directorial context of "Citizen Kane" (1941) reveals its commentary on power, media, and the American dream. Slide 10: • Summary slide: • Recap the main points about context in film analysis. • Encourage students to apply these concepts to their own analysis.

Historical Thinking Vocabulary

Historical Thinking - Contextualization

Historical Thinking Practice

Introduction to Historical Thinking - Starter Quiz

Write increasingly harder comprehension questions, that look further into higher-order thinking, aimed at Year 6 students based on the following text: Former US President Donald Trump is facing unprecedented criminal charges for his attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat, making him the first president in US history to face criminal charges. The indictment is based on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct official proceedings. Specifically, Trump is accused of spreading false claims about election fraud, pressuring then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject electoral votes and change the election results, and inciting the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. The indictment suggests that Mike Pence, the former Vice President, provided evidence against Trump. It details private phone calls where Trump repeatedly pressured Pence to block Joe Biden's victory. This development is particularly significant as it represents the third set of criminal charges filed against Trump in 2023, while he is actively campaigning for a return to the White House in the 2024 presidential election. Special Counsel Jack Smith noted that, although Trump is considered innocent until proven guilty, the actions of the mob during the Capitol riots were a direct "assault on democracy," fueled by lies and aimed at obstructing the certification of the presidential election results. This case will be closely watched as it unfolds, given its historical significance and potential implications for Trump's political future. Not only does it mark the first time a former president has faced criminal charges, but it also occurs at a time when Trump is actively seeking to return to political office, adding another layer of complexity to an already unprecedented situation.

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