Pedagogical Tool for Learning Social Justice - Movie Review Example

Critical discussion of “The Help”: A pedagogical tool for learning social justice 1. Introduction ‘The Help’ is a motion picture about the plights of black domestic workers in Jackson and characteristics of white rich women in Mississippi in the early 1960s. The film depict Black women as oppressed, fearful, and emotionally distressed servants working with White rich women who the film described as terrible wives and mothers. Generally, “The Help” demonstrate the inequities and humiliation suffered by black men and women working with some abusive white employers who at that time commonly classify people’s social status through the colour of their skin. The film also showed Black house helps as persistent loving nanny of White children regardless of their abusive parents, White superiority complex, anger and frustration, and racist practices justified by law. The following sections discuss the usefulness of the above film as pedagogical tool for teaching and learning in social and cultural contexts of education. Analysis and discussion of the significance of criticizing the social and political contexts of inequity in history and its implications on present day social justice. Finally, discussion on the type of citizenship in relation to life experiences depicted and conveyed by the film. 2. “The Help” as pedagogical tool for teaching and learning in the social and cultural contexts of education Critical thinking skills are developed when students are engaged in analysis activities such as analyzing different aspects of a film (Tsang, 2010). It provides a pedagogical space that enables students to construct knowledge by connecting personal experiences to wider social and cultural issues (Giroux, 2002). For instance, “The Help” depicts the cultural and social issues in American history that can significantly affect students understanding of race, society, and culture. For instance, it reminds people of the tragic consequences of racism and the importance of collective action against abuses. According to Qvarsell (2003), education is dependent on culture just a culture is dependent education (p.5) thus watching films like “The Help” can greatly influence students’ values, attitudes, and social lives. Moreover, understanding the spread of culture and the reality that they exist side by side despite differences may enhance students’ knowledge and performance as social norms of formal schooling are commonly based on the culture of the people it serves (Booth, 2004). Similarly, improvement in the level of education affects the thinking and way of life of a person living in society. It reduces the impact of casteism or restriction of status in life thus increasing people’s mobility and enhances social interaction (Trehan & Trehan, 2009). In terms of teaching and learning, the film reinforces the moral, political, and social assumptions associated with educational policy and practices. According to Purpel (1999), there is no educational policy or practice independent of social and cultural context because history, culture, norms, and politics are consistent with the educative process of a certain community (p.110). The film as pedagogical tool therefore has a great potential for improving teaching and learning as it promote awareness of the very foundation of educational strategies. Moreover, since films generally communicate with their intended viewers, it often creates emotional involvement and empathy with others based on shared values, education, culture, and social background (Fourie, 2001). Following Lev Vygotsky argument that knowledge is constructed by individuals interacting with different “cultural toolkit” (Anderson & Jefferson, 2009), a film like “The Help” that clearly used a sociocultural approach, can be a good source of knowledge because it promotes collaborative and interactive learning. 3. Importance of criticizing the social and political contexts of inequity in history and the implications for today’s realities Philosophers often gave importance to the study of human nature and existence. For instance, Marxism calls for the elimination of irrational social relations resulting to enslavement while modern humanist emphasize the importance of understanding human being and their activities in various societies (Gopal, 2008). By analysis, there are indeed differences in national conditions, traditions, and social systems thus it is nearly impossible to generalize a value system. This is the reason why interpretation of good justice, equality, liberty, rights and obligations, and fairness varies from philosopher to philosopher. However, despite contradictions, philosophers generally criticize social systems in order to adjust or improve human life. For instance, criticism of utilitarian value system often attack social ills prevailing in industrialized countries because it has led to social inequalities such as disparate distribution of wealth and rights, and so on (ibid). Criticism of social and political contexts of inequity in history can elicit popular attitudes and generate useful political ideas (Thompson, 2007). For instance, according to Gopal (2008), the condition of women today is the product of a historically determined social and cultural construct achieved through tireless criticism on the position of women in society. The shift in relations between men and women, individual rights, and autonomy in relation to their fathers and husbands was brought about by decades of criticism. In the 1980s for instance, minority and third world women activist criticism of the Western imperialist model of femininity, where superiority of white wealthy women over coloured women exist, led to greater awareness of inequalities between women in the United States and the rest of world. These include discovery of oppressive laws affecting women, issue on literacy rate, liberty, and dignity (p.89). “The Help” depict the life of the above coloured women dominated by their wealthy white employers. The film criticized the social and political conditions at that time as evidenced by Skeeter’s (an aspiring white writer) genuine concern over the life of black maids working with their discriminating wife employers and oppressive local laws. It is a reminder of past mistakes and dangerous social, cultural, and political mindset that should be avoided today. The importance of such criticism and its implications in today’s realities comes from the actuality that no one can fully understand current social, cultural, and political issues without historical facts. According to Kitayama & Cohen (2010), culture consist of a number of artefacts such norms, customs, values, and so on accumulated by a certain social group through history (p.111). Criticizing how white people’s supremacist mentality creates social injustices can lead to positive social and political change as aside from being aware of the depressing consequences, people can resolve issues more effectively if they understand the historical events that led to today’s circumstances (Lum, 2010). Although it may be difficult for some, presenting the harsh reality of social injustice may be helpful in understanding the social, economic, and political dynamics of inequality as well as cultural and political issues that are responsible for coloured people’s life suffering. Similarly, it can impart knowledge of the ideology and democratic practices that significantly reduce social and cultural differences in Western countries (Shapiro & Purpel, 1998). Using a sociocultural approach, “The Help” not only managed to present the harsh reality of colour-based social inequalities in America but the fact that not all white Americans approved of such supremacist thinking. For instance, except for Hilly Holbrook, white women like Skeeter Phelan, Celia Foote, Mrs. Walters, and others one way or another showed respect and recognition of black people’s rights. The criticism presented in the film therefore is not limited to discrimination against black but also an attempt to offer viewers with another social reality that not all white are racist. In fact, despite evident portrayal of extreme racial discrimination against black people, the film cannot conceal its attempt to glorify white’s generosity and support for democratic and equitable life. In summary, fair and honest criticism of social, cultural, and political context of inequality in history is important particularly in improving human relationship, eradication of irrational social values, development equitable political ideas, expounding the reality of cultural differences and peaceful coexistence, and promoting better social conditions. 4. What do the life experiences depicted in the film regarding notions of citizenship and rights – whether they be gendered, racialized, and classed. The notion of citizenship is closely associated with freedom, which is linked to the notion of nationality (Delanty, 1995). This is because freedom or autonomy promotes self -realization and maintenance of dignity of individuals living in a community. It is guaranteed by a system of civil rights under a just political order allowing citizens to participate and influence a political process. For this reason, citizenship recognizes all members of society regardless of their socio-economic status and level of civil activity (Gay, 2004). Citizenship can be viewed as juridical, political, economic, and cultural practices thus not limited to individual rights and obligations but forces producing such practices and different social arrangements contributing to the realization of such citizenship (Turner, 1993). As a form of traditional social practices and arrangements in America’s old political system, gendered citizenship sees women as virtual citizens because along with their own, men represent their wives and children (Ferree et al, 1999). Similarly, coloured men are not recognized as citizens because they are slave and therefore no freedom. In contrast, black women particularly those working as ‘help’ or caregiver are exercising citizenship responsibility (Oleksy et al, 2010) and therefore somehow recognized as citizens with limited rights. The life experiences depicted in the film regarding citizenship, rights are generally focus on racialized, and classed citizenship since there is no evidence to suggest that white women are male dominated. In fact, the film depicted white women as independent citizens with voice and political influence. By analysis, depicting white women as masters of black maids is suggestive of the most and least powerful figures in American life where race, ethnicity, and citizenship are part of the equation. Black women are portrayed as second-class citizens regardless of their contributions to society as legitimate workers in white homes and nannies for white children. Aibileen had raised seventeen white children in her career but her citizenship remains racialized and classed. Minny, Aibileen’s friend and an outspoken black maid formerly working in racist Hilly Holbrook household also suffered similar recognition but fortunate enough to get an employer like Celia Foote who treat her with far more respect. Aside from effectively depicting white supremacist mentality, life experiences depicted in the film clearly demonstrate the kind of “selective citizenship” offered to black helps who earn a little over a hundred dollars a month, a disease carrier deserving a separate toilet, fired instantly after serving more than 20 years, and are not trusted not to steal the silver. Their citizenship is both racialized and classed, tailored to suit the need of white dominated society wherein black people are stereotyped as slaves with no legal or political rights. 5. Conclusion “The Help” is indeed a useful pedagogical tool for teaching and learning as it conveys the moral, political, and social aspects of education. It has the potential to enhance teaching and learning by promoting awareness of the essential elements of educational strategies. Fair and objective criticism of social, cultural, and political issues not only improves human relationship but eradicate barriers to peaceful co-existence and mutually beneficial social conditions. Finally, life experiences of black helps depicted in the film suggest selective citizenship that is both racialized and classed. 6. References Anderson M. & Jefferson M, (2009), Teaching the screen: Film education for Generation Next, NSW, Australia: Allen & Unwin Booth M. Z, (2004), Culture and education: the social consequences of Western schooling in contemporary Swaziland, Maryland, United States: University Press of America Delanty G, (1995), Inventing Europe: Idea, identity, reality, London, United Kingdom: Palgrave MacMillan Ferree M. M., Lorber J, & Hess B.B, (1999), Re-visioning gender, California, United States: Rowman Altamira Publishing Fourie P. J, (2001), Media Studies: Institutions, theories, and issues, Lansdowne, South Africa: Juta and Company Ltd. 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