Can Feature Films Teach History?
There have been numerous studies regarding whether or not movies can teach history. The debate is ongoing. Some historians think that yes, movies can teach history but many lean the other direction. Historians question the validity of a film because of characters that weren’t real, or relationships that didn’t exist. In the study, there are a few key players like Peter Seixas and Robert Rosenstone.
Seixas, a historian and a professor, believes history can be taught through movies by the progression of thinking. A student doesn’t stop to assess why or why not a movie is historically correct unless told to do so. They just assume it is. Students look at the evens uncritically and blindly accept its accuracy without questioning its historical merits. “Based on True Events” does not make a film true. Seixas conducted a study using Dances with Wolves and The Searchers. Ten students watched both movies and chose the one they thought was more relevant to history. They thought Dances with Wolves was the most accurate based on special effects and quality of filming. Not on the event itself. The students criticized the other movie based on poor acting and outdated music. Students only questioned its truthfulness by the way women and Native Americans were treated. …show more content…
In his study, students began to question the accuracy of Dances with Wolves due to the misrepresentation of The Searchers. Students then wanted more information to determine. Visual imagery engages students in ways that teachers and textbooks can’t; however, movies tend to use presentism resulting in the students accepting these stories as truth. Films can be used in a better
There have been numerous studies regarding whether or not movies can teach history. The debate is ongoing. Some historians think that yes, movies can teach history but many lean the other direction. Historians question the validity of a film because of characters that weren’t real, or relationships that didn’t exist. In the study, there are a few key players like Peter Seixas and Robert Rosenstone.
Seixas, a historian and a professor, believes history can be taught through movies by the progression of thinking. A student doesn’t stop to assess why or why not a movie is historically correct unless told to do so. They just assume it is. Students look at the evens uncritically and blindly accept its accuracy without questioning its historical merits. “Based on True Events” does not make a film true. Seixas conducted a study using Dances with Wolves and The Searchers. Ten students watched both movies and chose the one they thought was more relevant to history. They thought Dances with Wolves was the most accurate based on special effects and quality of filming. Not on the event itself. The students criticized the other movie based on poor acting and outdated music. Students only questioned its truthfulness by the way women and Native Americans were treated. …show more content…
In his study, students began to question the accuracy of Dances with Wolves due to the misrepresentation of The Searchers. Students then wanted more information to determine. Visual imagery engages students in ways that teachers and textbooks can’t; however, movies tend to use presentism resulting in the students accepting these stories as truth. Films can be used in a better