Assignment:
Once you identify the film you will use for the assignment, watch it critically, from the perspective of someone who is becoming knowledgeable about gerontology and aging-related issues. Take good notes that focus on gerontologically-relevant aspects of the film. These notes should form the basis of your analysis. Be sure to use the to guide you through the assignment
Your analysis should be 5 double-spaced, typed pages. You must use 12-point font and 1 inch margins.
Address the following points in your analysis, and be sure to include gerontological vocabulary and concepts throughout your responses:
Identify a major gerontological perspective/lens (i.e., life span development and/or life course perspective, biopsychosocial approach, environmental gerontology) that best helps you understand the film from a gerontological point of view. Briefly explain the perspective/lens and why/how this perspective/lens helps you "make sense" of the film.
In general, how are older adult(s) portrayed in the film (e.g., is the film ageist; in what way(s) are the characters stereotypical; to what extent does the film capture the diversity of the aging experience (think about different ways of measuring aging) within the same character and across different characters; are the older characters accurately portrayed)?
Select one of the older characters in the film and discuss her/his life course trajectory. Specifically, as appropriate in the context of the film, discuss:
a) the relevant age-graded, history graded, and non-normative events that comprise the character's trajectory;
b) the relevance of the timing of these key events;
c) the impact of social role expectations and changes;
d) how the character's life course trajectory is influenced by the historical period and/or culture in which the film is set; and
e) indicate how the character's life course trajectory influences that of another major character.
Discuss whether you consider this to be a good film from the perspective of someone who is informed about aging in terms of:
a) what the film "got right" gerontologically;
b) how the film could have done a better job gerontologically;
c) whether you would recommend the film to a general audience; and
d) whether you would recommend the film to an older adult audience.