Teaching Students About Chronicle Movie
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In an era when superhero films dominate the box office, the 2012 film “Chronicle,” directed by Josh Trank and written by Max Landis, provides a unique perspective on the genre. The movie explores themes of power, responsibility, and friendship through the story of three high school students who are granted extraordinary abilities. Teachers can use Chronicle as a valuable teaching tool to engage students in critical thinking and analysis, enabling them to examine larger social and personal issues.
Lesson Goals
1. Encourage students to analyze and discuss the themes and characters presented in the movie.
2. Highlight the use of found footage-style storytelling as a narrative technique.
3. Explore ethical questions surrounding power, its effects, and responsibilities.
4. Connect the film’s themes to real-world issues, empowering students to reflect on their own experiences.
Classroom Activities
1. Pre-Viewing Discussion:
Ask students to discuss their prior knowledge and understanding of the superhero genre. Encourage them to consider cliches, common tropes, and expectations that are often associated with such films.
2. Film Analysis:
Divide students into small groups and assign them different segments of the movie to analyze. Ask them to identify key scenes or elements that illustrate themes or character development and to discuss these findings with the rest of the class.
3. Found Footage Examination:
Lead a class discussion on how “Chronicle” uses found footage – a popular storytelling technique in today’s film landscape – to convey its story. Compare this method with more traditional narrative styles seen in other superhero films.
4. Ethical Exploration:
Organize a series of debates where students argue various moral dilemmas presented in the movie, such as abuse of power, responsibility towards others, and vigilante justice.
5. Character Study:
Have each student select one character from “Chronicle” for a comprehensive character study. Students should focus on the character’s motivations, changes throughout the film, and how their actions impact others. Present their findings in an essay or oral presentation.
6. Real-world Connections:
Discuss with students how themes from the film can relate to real-world scenarios. Encourage them to reflect on instances where they had to make ethical decisions or witnessed situations involving power imbalances.
Conclusion
“Chronicle” offers a fresh take on the popular superhero genre, dismantling common tropes and inviting audiences to question the nature of power and responsibility. Educators can effectively utilize this movie as a teaching tool to engage students in profound discussion, critical analysis, and deep reflection on real-life issues. Embracing such thought-provoking content will provide valuable learning opportunities for today’s youth.