Re: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Re: Movies and the Power of Story
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Yes, yes, yes! Loved this whole post. It is imo all about the Power of
Story.
Pleasantville is one of our family favorites for just these unschool-y
reasons. Then we discovered Strictly Ballroom last week and had great fun
relating its themes back to Pleasantville, Dirty Dancing, and Footloose. We
decided the Preacher in Footloose, the Mayor in Pleasantville, and the toupeed
Dance Association head in Strictly Ballroom (Barry I think) all were the same
character, embodying the repressive forces of convention, keeping the populace in
line so people can't grow beyond the bounds those leaders represent and
believe are necessary.
As an academic thinker, what I like about the heroes in each of these
movies is that they beat the controller-standardizers at their own game. In
other words, they aren't brought up as rebels or indoctrinated to rebel. They
don't set out to be rebels at all, and they don't come to it by default because
they aren't able enough to excel within the rules. Instead they come to it
gradually and reluctantly, for their own reasons. It is a personal journey with
meaning only to that young person who tries first of all to fit in rather than
to rebel.
The Strictly Ballroom dancer was the best at all the conventional
steps, and then he needed even more, to grow beyond their limits. Tobey Maguire
knew and loved everything about the old black-and-white tv world -- he didn't
want to rebel, but eventually it happened in spite of his desire to fit in, just
because its limits couldn't hold him forever.
The preacher's daughter in Footloose who just wants to rebel and run
away has a horrible time of it until she's inspired to understand her own
feelings and her father's feelings as well. Same with the Dirty Dancing daughter,
who is such a good girl in every way, until she meets the rebel dance teacher
and her generous heart grows even more, finally breaking through beyond
societal limitations. All the successful hero characters first steep themselves in
the rules and boundaries and learn to understand them, thereby also learning
about and eventually exceeding their own limitations through experience. These
are acts of personal growth and discovery, not social rebellion.
That's how we see unschooling. That's the Power of Our Story.
Not trying to rebel or decide anything for anyone else, or reform the
public schools or take over homeschooling. We are simply being true to our own
family's journey of personal growth and discovery. We do this just like in
the movies, by first knowing more than most people about what those boundaries
are and how to live within them and what is possible beyond them. And
sometimes, it just happens to have revolutionary import of which we never dreamed! :)
JJ
bunsofaluminum60@... writes:
Story.
Pleasantville is one of our family favorites for just these unschool-y
reasons. Then we discovered Strictly Ballroom last week and had great fun
relating its themes back to Pleasantville, Dirty Dancing, and Footloose. We
decided the Preacher in Footloose, the Mayor in Pleasantville, and the toupeed
Dance Association head in Strictly Ballroom (Barry I think) all were the same
character, embodying the repressive forces of convention, keeping the populace in
line so people can't grow beyond the bounds those leaders represent and
believe are necessary.
As an academic thinker, what I like about the heroes in each of these
movies is that they beat the controller-standardizers at their own game. In
other words, they aren't brought up as rebels or indoctrinated to rebel. They
don't set out to be rebels at all, and they don't come to it by default because
they aren't able enough to excel within the rules. Instead they come to it
gradually and reluctantly, for their own reasons. It is a personal journey with
meaning only to that young person who tries first of all to fit in rather than
to rebel.
The Strictly Ballroom dancer was the best at all the conventional
steps, and then he needed even more, to grow beyond their limits. Tobey Maguire
knew and loved everything about the old black-and-white tv world -- he didn't
want to rebel, but eventually it happened in spite of his desire to fit in, just
because its limits couldn't hold him forever.
The preacher's daughter in Footloose who just wants to rebel and run
away has a horrible time of it until she's inspired to understand her own
feelings and her father's feelings as well. Same with the Dirty Dancing daughter,
who is such a good girl in every way, until she meets the rebel dance teacher
and her generous heart grows even more, finally breaking through beyond
societal limitations. All the successful hero characters first steep themselves in
the rules and boundaries and learn to understand them, thereby also learning
about and eventually exceeding their own limitations through experience. These
are acts of personal growth and discovery, not social rebellion.
That's how we see unschooling. That's the Power of Our Story.
Not trying to rebel or decide anything for anyone else, or reform the
public schools or take over homeschooling. We are simply being true to our own
family's journey of personal growth and discovery. We do this just like in
the movies, by first knowing more than most people about what those boundaries
are and how to live within them and what is possible beyond them. And
sometimes, it just happens to have revolutionary import of which we never dreamed! :)
JJ
bunsofaluminum60@... writes:
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> One movie that I associate with unschooling, because it is about
> thinking outside the box, and living life passionately (but it is NOT
> for little kids...) is Pleasantville.
>
> Toby McGuire and Reese Witherspoon both star, and it may be the
> first big movie for both of them. It also has Jeff Daniels
> from "Dumb and Dumber" and "Fly Away Home"
>
> Fly Away Home is VERY unschooly. The one about the flock of geese
> that bonds to a high school girl and she has to lead them through the
> air to a wintering spot...that's a good one for depicting a life of
> passion and interest.
>
> But to tell you the truth, movies are just Highly Graphic
> Storytelling :) and the little brains inside their little skulls are
> clicking away making connections that we can't imagine...and so, like
> everything else, movies ARE unschooly. Just like chopping firewood,
> baking bread, drawing symmetrical designs, counting change, swimming,
> reading Nate the Great, and grocery shopping are :)
>
pam sorooshian
On Tuesday, September 23, 2003, at 08:23 AM, jrossedd@... wrote:
growth and discovery.
In its most crude form (and most honest), it is, for me, just saying,
"You can't MAKE me."
-pam
> These are acts of personal growth and discovery, not social rebellion.I see it as both. I see the rebellion as arising OUT of the personal
>
> That's how we see unschooling.
growth and discovery.
In its most crude form (and most honest), it is, for me, just saying,
"You can't MAKE me."
-pam
[email protected]
> On Tuesday, September 23, 2003, at 08:23 AM, jrossedd@... wrote:LOL - unschooling is REALLY not like that for me -- honest! <g>
>
> > These are acts of personal growth and discovery, not social rebellion.
> >> That's how we see unschooling.
> Pam responded:
> I see it as both. I see the rebellion as arising OUT of the personal
> growth and discovery.
>
> In its most crude form (and most honest), it is, for me, just saying,
> "You can't MAKE me."
>
> -pam
>
>
Rebellion was never part of my identity, even as a teen. I'm always
startled when others see our lifestyle or anything I say or do as rebelling. I
think of myself as so normal and well-adjusted. :) JJ
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/23/03 10:48:23 AM, pamsoroosh@... writes:
<< n its most crude form (and most honest), it is, for me, just saying,
"You can't MAKE me." >>
In Strictly Ballroom, it was definitely rebellion. But it had to do with
priorities. His mentors considered the rules, contests and titles to be
primary. Scott's priority is dance itself. That's a conflict. He's been groomed.
He can't step off his path without it being rebellion, but he's decided that
his own ideas outweigh his duty to his mother or teacher.
"Rebellion" is what it's called by the people who don't approve.
"Liberation" or "freedom" are the names given by those who step up and out.
Sandra
<< n its most crude form (and most honest), it is, for me, just saying,
"You can't MAKE me." >>
In Strictly Ballroom, it was definitely rebellion. But it had to do with
priorities. His mentors considered the rules, contests and titles to be
primary. Scott's priority is dance itself. That's a conflict. He's been groomed.
He can't step off his path without it being rebellion, but he's decided that
his own ideas outweigh his duty to his mother or teacher.
"Rebellion" is what it's called by the people who don't approve.
"Liberation" or "freedom" are the names given by those who step up and out.
Sandra
Heidi
Okay, I'm gonna have to get Strictly Ballroom now. I've seen Dirty
Dancing, but can't remember anything other than Patrick Swayze's
amazing bod...don't remember a lick of the plot! LOL and I've never
seen Footloose either.
I'll have to get these into the house and check them out.
They
able enough to excel within the rules"...this was a HUGE discussion
between me and my best friend, about my choices in the education of
my kids...she always DID excel within the rules...top of her class,
high achiever, etc. and is having a hard time understanding my
(strong)dislike of the system. For so many people, the burden of the
rules drives out initiative, passion, interest. The rules are
stronger than MANY personalities. Not everyone can push past them the
way you describe here.
Heaven forbid, my kids should come into adulthood with the baggage I
had to contend with. I want them to find their excellence, and don't
see how I can MAKE them or FORCE them...if it is to be theirs, they
must find it themselves. And me along to help over the rough spots,
enjoying the journey with them.
Having gone through the "tried first to fit in" and then
the "rebellion"...but you know, with no personal resources, my
rebellion was ugly and dangerous. I hope to endow my kids with the
resources, and free them up so the rebellion is meaningless...they'll
already have themselves, and themselves with confidence, abilities,
discernment, morals...
I like this thread!
blessings, HeidiC
Dancing, but can't remember anything other than Patrick Swayze's
amazing bod...don't remember a lick of the plot! LOL and I've never
seen Footloose either.
I'll have to get these into the house and check them out.
They
> don't set out to be rebels at all, and they don't come to it bydefault because
> they aren't able enough to excel within the rules. Instead theycome to it
> gradually and reluctantly, for their own reasons. It is a personaljourney with
> meaning only to that young person who tries first of all to fit inrather than
> to rebel.For the above reason, if none other: "it isn't because they aren't
able enough to excel within the rules"...this was a HUGE discussion
between me and my best friend, about my choices in the education of
my kids...she always DID excel within the rules...top of her class,
high achiever, etc. and is having a hard time understanding my
(strong)dislike of the system. For so many people, the burden of the
rules drives out initiative, passion, interest. The rules are
stronger than MANY personalities. Not everyone can push past them the
way you describe here.
Heaven forbid, my kids should come into adulthood with the baggage I
had to contend with. I want them to find their excellence, and don't
see how I can MAKE them or FORCE them...if it is to be theirs, they
must find it themselves. And me along to help over the rough spots,
enjoying the journey with them.
Having gone through the "tried first to fit in" and then
the "rebellion"...but you know, with no personal resources, my
rebellion was ugly and dangerous. I hope to endow my kids with the
resources, and free them up so the rebellion is meaningless...they'll
already have themselves, and themselves with confidence, abilities,
discernment, morals...
I like this thread!
blessings, HeidiC