Authentic Material

Film, video, television, music and podcast are media that we are come in contact with daily. In the digital age, it is hard to avoid such media. This is why we find that integrating everyday media into the educational context connect the environment of students and topics of education. Using modern media to practice skills, open discussions and increase the students’ interest will make seemingly classical educational topics more interesting, accessible and vivid.

In the following, we will present ideas on how to use certain media in the classroom. These ideas are categorised by the subjects that they may be used for. The ‘FILM, VIDEO & TELEVISION’-sections are divided into the subjects History and Art. The ‘MUSIC & PODCASTS’-section presents the material for both subjects to portray the fluidity of school subjects and to stimulate creativity in the minds of upcoming teachers.

DR STRANGELOVE – OR HOW I LEARNED TO LOVE THE BOMB
#coldwar #fiction
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• Discuss how film manages to offer a presumably accurate portrayal of the mindset and zeitgeist of the cold war

• Try to find correlations between the film and the historical events

SKILLS: Fremdverstehen

HACKSAW RIDGE
#ww2 #biographical
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• Discuss the cinematic accuracy of the films

• Pinpoint the historical events that are portrayed in the film

SKILLS: Fremdverstehen

DUNKIRK
#ww2 #biographical
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• Discuss the cinematic accuracy of the films

• Discuss how Dunkirk manages to eliminate political ideologies and enemy stereotype

• Pinpoint the historical events that are portrayed in the film

SKILLS: Fremdverstehen

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI
#racism #slavery #USA
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• Discuss how the institutionalisation of racism is portrayed in the film

12 YEARS A SLAVE

#racism #slavery #biographical #USA
POSSIBLE TASKS:

•  Discuss how slavery is portrayed in the film and how accurate it is

MAD MEN
#60s #sexism #alcoholism #workspace
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• How does the show represent sexism in the workspace?

• How was sexism institutionalised in the 60s?

• Which picture does the show paint of women’s career possibilities?

PSYCHO
#camera shots #blackandwhite
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• sketch at least 6 of the camera shots with the help of a storyboard
• Create a draft of 6 camera shots used in Psycho’s shower scene!
• What effect does the monochrome colouring have on the recipient?
• Count the number of cuts in the shower scene and sketch the 4 exciting ones

SKILLS: Bildkompetenz erlangen (Bilder wahrnehmen, Bilder machen)

THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE AND HER LOVER
#setting #costumes #one place #music
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• How does music effect the different scenes? 
• What changes in the scenes when the wife meets her lover?
• How is tension created?

SKILLS: Bildkompetenz erlangen (Bilder wahrnehmen)

LAUTREC
#paintersandposters #paris #19thcenturyparis
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• Take notes of how Lautrec designs his posters for the Moulin Rouge
• How are women represented in the movie? What roles did women play back then? 

SKILLS: Bildkompetenz erlangen (Bilder verstehen, Bilder wahrnehmen, Bilder verstehen)

VAN GOGH
#painter #impressionism #portray
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• Design a time line regarding van Gogh’s biography
• How does impressionism differ from other art genres? Take notes!

SKILLS: Bildkompetenz erlangen (Bilder produzieren, Bilder wahrnehmen, Bilder verstehen)

MOONLIGHT
#identity #homosexuality #comingofage
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• showing students a detail of a scene picture
• What may be depicted in the whole picture? What might the film be about?
• What are the problems of the protagonist? Design a film cover for the movie!
• How would his life be different when growing up in a more diverse and inclusive setting/ or political matters would be different (racism, homosexuality). Create a short film.

SKILLS: Bildkompetenz erlangen (Bilder imaginieren, Bilder wahrnehmen, Bilder verstehen, Bilder machen, über Bilder kommunizieren)

BIRDMAN
#filmtechniques #oneshot #smoothcuts
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• What is special about the cutting of the film? What effect does it take? Try to film a one-take movie. What are the difficulties? What went well?

SKILLS: Bildkompetenz erlangen (Bilder wahrnehmen, Bilder machen)

SHINING
#suspense #threatandfear #musicandfilm
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• What is your personal most scary scene in the movie? Why?

SKILLS: Bildkompetenz erlangen (Bilder wahrnehmen, Bilder verstehen)

THE WAY I SEE IT (BBC)
#MoMa #inspiration #analysis #interpretation
POSSIBLE TASKS: 

• skip to 1:44 min
• How does the scenery, the patient is gazing at, look like?
  While the description is given, illustrate the landscape on a paper

SKILLS: Bildkompetenz erlangen 

APESHIT (THE CARTERS)
#blackculture #art

• Cut and frame; filmed in Louvre; contrast (moved, static), analogies (stylistic devices); wealth and cultural capital; equality; question of power is raised (paintings of colonialism); position of black people and women throughout history up until today

POSSIBLE TASKS:

• Where is the music video filmed? 
  What scene does have an aesthetic effect on you? Why?
• Choose your favourite song and create a music video for it.
• How are blacks represented (in the paintings and the artists)?
• Research the history of black art and its treatment by the US-American people 

SKILLS: Bildkompetenz erlangen

WHERE IS THE LOVE (BLACK EYED PEAS)
#unfairness #disrespect #comingtogether
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• Pick a topic that is represented in the song. Do you agree with the message of the song?
• Discuss the historical events that led to the writing of the song
• also task from below

SKILLS: Bildkompetenz erlangen

SAME LOVE (MACKLEMORE)
#homosexuality #growing up
POSSIBLE TASKS:

• Homophobia and racism are still reality in today’s society
• Create a poster/ photography/ campaign/ movie that fights for solidarity, tolerance and anti-discrimination
• Research the treatment of the LGBQT+-community by the US-American government

DEAR MR PRESIDENT (P!NK)
#homosexuality #georgewbush #revolt

• political view of someone as inspiration for their own world view; chances and obstacles of living with each other; thematises problems in society; Hurricane Katrina 2005 (Bush’s help low and too late); war, homosexuality, law

POSSIBLE TASKS:

• What do you like about living in Europe? What don’t you like? 
• Find out about the historical events that led to the song
• Evaluate the artistic utilisation of the historical events