The Representations in the Film Coach Carter - Movie Review Example

Subject: Essay Date: Topic: Discuss the representations in the film "Coach Carter" Part 1--Coach Carter – Representation Introduce the film. Why did I choose this film? The hallmark of most of the characters in the movie is that they hail from the working class background. The movie relates to the group of young basketball players at Richmond High School. The common features amongst them are they all come from troubled backgrounds. I choose this film because the story pertains to the life of combustible younger generation of sportspersons and the storyline deviates from the normal path, to provide me something new. Describe the big picture The main plot of the movie is that the students attend the school to advance their career as sportspersons. They have no real goal in life, any noble ideals to cherish. They cultivate an ardent wish to play basketball, which is their passion. The other side of their life is dark. They are likely to end up in prison. Entry of one individual like Coach Carter changes the entire scenario. Andy Hargreaves (2003) argues, “The school promotes professional learning teams, involves everyone in the ‘big picture,….The school is a caring community as well as a learning community, giving prime value to family, relationships, and cosmopolitan concern for others in the world.”( p. xxi) The school becomes the personality building center for the students. What are the portrayals of the stereotypical or iconic ‘good teacher’ and ‘bad teacher’ in the film? With Ken Carter taking over as the new basketball coach, substantial changes take place and he initiates new aspirations with the members of the basketball team, and makes sure that they attend classes and maintain a C+ grade average. He conducts tough drills and gives lots of importance to etiquettes. Thus he is the guide for the directionless and destination-less youngsters. The bad teacher carries on with the available discipline and his role is negligible in the life-building process of the students. How’s the school presented? Coach Carter is an educational role model. He accepts the offer as basketball coach for his old high school in Richmond. In his days, he is a champion athlete. The conditions in the school are poor. The attitudes of the players are sub-standard and their playing performance is dismal. Carter is up to the task to set right the issues with a strict agenda. He introduces a dress code, demands respectful behavior, and good grades as primary requisites to participate in the team. Initially, the boys resist. But his sterling coaching techniques lead the team to become champions. When the team members turn over confident and their behavior begins to stray and when it is brought to his notice that too many players fare poorly in the class, he initiates drastic measures, and cancels all team activities and locks the basketball court. This action is resented by the team, the school administration and the community, but Carter holds his ground, and has the final say which turns out well for all concerned. What is the goal of education, according to the film (what is presented, not what are the intentions of the film makers)? The movie does justice to the aspirations of the working class. It provides the positive picture. The transformation in the mindset of the basketball players is shown with admirable resilience. The society, the school administration and even some of the families give up hopes about ability to shape their future well, and it is the grit, idealism and determination of one man, Ken Carter, takes charge of their all-round training to build them as a positive group of young sportspersons in the real sense of the term. In the initial stages, the audience takes the conclusion about the youngsters for granted and they carry the impression of the stereotypes in their minds. The audience is able to learn through this movie the remarkable results of the positive approach. The goal of education is to draw the best within the individual to chisel an ideal human being, according to the film makers, and they have achieved their objectives creditably. The following two examples give the picture, how the process of transformation of a student, full of negative traits, is achieved with the sterling qualities of Carter. The stereotype character Timo Cruiz provides the current conditions prevailing in the society and the challenges of the working class. His upbringing is bad; he is caught with his cousin trading in drugs. He is aggressive by nature and loses no opportunity to confront. But Carter understands his problems well, which he believes is due to his social background. Initially, he is sacked from the basketball team, works very hard to get back into the team with commitment and resilience, but loses temper and is sacked again. He is entangled in the murder of his cousin, and from within he is scared and fragile. He works hard again, and finally finds his place in the team. He continues in the school, when the players are not allowed to play and are required to perform at the academic front. Another issue with lots of social relevance dealt with in the movie is teenage pregnancy. A young girl gets pregnant and she wants to have the baby. Kenyon, who is the member of the basketball team, has fathered the baby. Going by his social group, it is normal for the audience to expect the Kenyon would like to shun the responsibility. But he stays with her. He shows his concern for the welfare of the baby, though lacks finances. When he gets his college scholarship, he arranges to take care of his girlfriend and the baby. This part of the story is a welcome break from the stereotype. Representations Majority of the representations match the socially constructed discourses listed in Part 2 below. One can read through the impact of these discourses throughout the film and through the interplay between the different characters. Carter’s belief is that his players must have goals beyond college ball and he proves his perspective right. But for his arrival on the scene the stereotype of black basketball players would have no hope of college education .They would have landed in prison or get killed in street fights. Carter formed a system and persuaded the students and their families to fall in line. Without raking up the controversies, the movie highlights the existence of social class and the prevailing racial inequality, which is distorted through media. Conclusions The model adopted by Carter is the ideal part of the curriculum. In brief, that is authentic school teaching. Good teaching helps to build, not break a person. Redefining curriculum is important, but not that important. What is important is there should be noble and dedicated individuals (teachers) to implement and take care of different spaces for teaching and learning. The intentions of the film makers is to keep before the audience the present issues related to the youngsters, especially those hailing from poor economic and cultural backgrounds, broken families and are not exposed to right type of educational facilities. The representations in the movie are good and authentic, and there is no case for me to change my opinions regarding their applicability. Part 2-- Some Teacher Discourses that might appear in popular culture (film, television, etc.): Breakdown in homes (increasing number of divorces) has resulted in breakdown in discipline in the home and also at the school. It leads to misery to all the family members. The family needs loving parents and perfect guidance. The youngsters feel safer and are happy that someone cares for them. Schools are, in a way, extension of the family environment, in which the teachers play the predominant role, in shaping the destiny of children and to become productive members of the society. Richmond School is one such example. When the family life is in shambles due to economic, social and various other reasons, teacher is no less than a savior, which means students need protection from all ends. At this juncture, the helping hand provided by the teacher plays the vital role and he acts as the torchbearer. Howard Hendricks (2003)argues, “Yet strangely enough, many of them have never been helped to understand that they cannot fully develop spiritually unless they develop in life’s other areas as well—intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally. You cannot neglect one of these areas without endangering your growth in all of them. Likewise, you cannot grow in any one of those areas without also having an effect on all the others.”(p.25) Carter shows full awareness of all these possibilities. If the teacher is able to exercise proper authority, control and will not hesitate to avail the option of punishment, for the overall betterment of the students that is good for all concerned. This movie features all these and Carter offers resolutions to problems of his team members. He makes them see the consequences of their ill-founded actions. Under his guidance, they make right decisions that lead to positive consequences. This movie is about the realities of life, how to face them, than about entertainment. It has accomplished the well-defined purpose. It is about telling the people (students, the school administration and the community) to do the right thing. It’s is about showing a direction to the community and the importance of man-making public education. It makes one understand the important role of the teacher in building the society, by building the individuals. The movie is structured and intended for greater purposes than about coaching for basketball. It shows transformation process of the players in his basketball team and giving them lessons to look beyond the scope of the game, when they are out of the high school. He imbibes within them the positive qualities of respect, confidence and discipline. To remain morally upright to challenge life is the lesson taught by Carter, the coach/teacher to his students. Recent teen movies depict the negative aspect of black youth by creating flawed stereotypes. The portrayal by media is also on identical lines. Broken families and the absence of father figure or a positive role model, contributes to the miseries of the black youth, who imbibe gang culture and the young men are prone to take up the path of crime. The theme of “Coach Carter,” tackles such a situation in the life of Timo Cruz, whose uncle was a famous gang leader. His reformation process begins when he comes into contact with his basketball coach. How the teacher can be an agent of social change, is highlighted creditably in the movie. This is a good inspirational movie that expects one to excel in life and sports are one of the important channels to reach the goal of life. Sports activities teach a student to stay committed and work hard to improve one’s future prospectus. References Hargreaves, Andy. (2003)Teaching in the Knowledge Society: Education in the Age of Insecurity (Professional Learning): Open University Press Hendricks, Howard. (2003)Teaching to Change Lives: Seven Proven Ways to Make Your Teaching Come Alive: Multnomah Books Coach Carter (2005) - Full cast and crew Retrieved on October 10, 2012 Read More