Envision Literature
Using two literary texts, The Visit and The Color Purple students will be guided in reading for comprehension and analysis of written stories for elements normal to their grade level. They will view the corresponding films to critically analyze screenplay writing, film direction, editing choices of film directors and film editors. The story will be approached using a chunking strategy, pulling large amounts of written text from the entire story. Using these two literary masterpieces from text and film perspectives, students will mentally and visually analyze the wide range of differences in the role of Black women. Hyenas (1992) represents women in power and of very high esteem in West Africa, while The Color Purple's (1991) primary focus is the oppression of women — specifically Black women in America.x
As an extension for this type of comparative lesson, teachers can utilize another pair showing a correspondence between the African film, Xala (1975) and the African-American silent film, Scar of Shame (1927). These two films show women in a less than prominent stature. However, there is no novel to correspond with the film, Scar of Shame (1927). Students will gain insight in polygamy from both films and the historical perspectives of the Black family and the struggles or better said the trials and tribulations of Black women and men in these types of families.
Students will also come away from this segment of the unit with critical analysis skills to categorize and discuss concepts of social ethics. In viewing some or all of the films mentioned in this chapter, there are many opportunities to make probing comments for discussion, concepts of right and wrong, doing one's duty, and general ethics, giving students a chance to express personal feelings and attitudes. xi By using film for this purpose, its use will be even more effective with reluctant readers.
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