DOCSLIB.ORG

“The Truth Is out There” Using the X-Files As a Catalyst for Critical Thinking in the Writing Classroom Courtney Patrick

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
“The Truth Is out There” Using the X-Files As a Catalyst for Critical Thinking in the Writing Classroom Courtney Patrick “The Truth is Out There” Using The X-Files as a Catalyst for Critical Thinking in the Writing Classroom Courtney Patrick “Home” . The X-Files was a popular science fiction show that aired on FOX from 1993-2002 . It featured two main characters, FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who tracked down everything from aliens to ghosts during the series’ run. “Home” first aired in 1996 and was the first X-Files episode to be banned after its initial airing on the FOX network, as well as the first American television episode to be given an MA rating. Deals with small-town murders and includes, among other things, child abandonment and an incestual family plagued with dozens of birth-defects as the result of years of inbreeding Using “Home” to Spark Critical Thinking . Cultural myths-The Model Family . America’s perception of the “ideal” family . “…a harmonious association of parents and children united by love and trust” (Rereading America 19) . “…ideal of wise, loving parents and harmonious, happy families” (20) . “…nuclear family—Dad, Mom, a couple of kids, maybe a dog, and a spacious suburban home” (18). Dad is the “breadwinner” while Mom stays at home and keeps the home clean and the family together Using “Home” To Spark Critical Thinking . While students watch the episode “Home,” ask them to take notes regarding any moment that dealt with the model family’s values, either positively or negatively . After watching the episode, ask students to write a response to the episode, noting specific moments in the episode that directly questioned the cultural myth of the model family Peacock Family Values: Then and Now . After students have responded to the episode, pick out key moments in the episode to invite class discussion . Softball scene . Local Police (names/actions) . Andy Taylor . No guns/unlocked doors . Peacock family vs. America’s cultural myth family . Similarities between Mrs. Peacock and Sheriff Taylor . Both fear and hate change because it disrupts the family How do all of these scenes connect to the myth of the model family and the values of the model family? Values: Then and Now . After discussion, inform students the history of the episode of “Home” . Decide as a class the importance of the same values in 1996 and in 2011 . Why was “Home” banned in 1996 and given MA rating? . Would “Home” be banned in 2011? Why or Why Not? . What does this say about the model family 1996 vs. the model family myth 2011? . Is the myth of the model family fading as more and more families no longer resemble it? . If so, why do we still strive to live up to that image? Results . Ultimately, students agree that the episode wasn’t necessarily banned for gore or fright but rather because the episode dared to recreate the model family in the Peacock family. Since the values of the Peacock family were too close to those of the Sheriff’s family (i.e.-the model family), many viewers were horrified at how easily their family values transferred to such a grotesque family. As time has passed, however, we no longer embrace the image of the model family as tightly as we once did, mostly because, as time passes, the myth of the model family begins to fade as more and more families have changed the traditional definition of “family.” . Many students also believe that today’s “Peacock family” seems to be same-sex marriages, a union which many people try to ban as they believe the concept threatens “family values”—values that belong to a mythical “model” family that doesn’t resemble any real family we see today in America. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Dominican Charism in American Higher Education:A
    The Dominican Charism in American Higher Education: VisionA Servicein ofTruth Inspired by the 12th Biennial Colloquium of Dominican Colleges and Universities 1 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given This document was commissioned by the presidents of the Dominican for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit colleges and universities in the U.S. in conjunction with the 2012 a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by Dominican Higher Education Colloquium entitled The Contemplative Vision: Love, Truth and Reality. It is intended to be “a conversation means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, starter” within and among the institutions of Dominican higher education to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous in the United States to stimulate research and writing that will further powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between explore and articulate the richness of the Dominican tradition. All are spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to invited to bring their scholarship, convictions and experiences to the conversation. still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each Thanks to the initiative of President Donna M. Carroll, Dominican one, just as he determines. 1 Cor 12: 7-11 University has assumed responsibility for the publication of the document and will serve as the distribution center for copies requested by Dominican institutions. Introduction Special thanks go to the American Dominicans who formed the The future of American Dominican institutions of higher education is, in writing team: large part, in the hands of dedicated lay women and men.
    [Show full text]
  • A Matter of Truth
    A MATTER OF TRUTH The Struggle for African Heritage & Indigenous People Equal Rights in Providence, Rhode Island (1620-2020) Cover images: African Mariner, oil on canvass. courtesy of Christian McBurney Collection. American Indian (Ninigret), portrait, oil on canvas by Charles Osgood, 1837-1838, courtesy of Massachusetts Historical Society Title page images: Thomas Howland by John Blanchard. 1895, courtesy of Rhode Island Historical Society Christiana Carteaux Bannister, painted by her husband, Edward Mitchell Bannister. From the Rhode Island School of Design collection. © 2021 Rhode Island Black Heritage Society & 1696 Heritage Group Designed by 1696 Heritage Group For information about Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, please write to: Rhode Island Black Heritage Society PO Box 4238, Middletown, RI 02842 RIBlackHeritage.org Printed in the United States of America. A MATTER OF TRUTH The Struggle For African Heritage & Indigenous People Equal Rights in Providence, Rhode Island (1620-2020) The examination and documentation of the role of the City of Providence and State of Rhode Island in supporting a “Separate and Unequal” existence for African heritage, Indigenous, and people of color. This work was developed with the Mayor’s African American Ambassador Group, which meets weekly and serves as a direct line of communication between the community and the Administration. What originally began with faith leaders as a means to ensure equitable access to COVID-19-related care and resources has since expanded, establishing subcommittees focused on recommending strategies to increase equity citywide. By the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society and 1696 Heritage Group Research and writing - Keith W. Stokes and Theresa Guzmán Stokes Editor - W.
    [Show full text]
  • The Complete X-Files Ebook
    THE COMPLETE X-FILES PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Chris Knowles,Matt Hurwitz | 224 pages | 23 Sep 2016 | Titan Books Ltd | 9781785654336 | English | London, United Kingdom The Complete X-Files PDF Book In one of the most tongue in cheek, unusual episodes of the series, Scully consults with a Truman Capote-like novelist who wants to write "non- fiction science fiction" based around an unusual x-file, giving an outsider's perspective to a case. You may not need files for most quick fixes. It's an unnerving, calculating episode, where the mere appearance of Modell onscreen spells very bad thing. There's also a lot of heart in the episode, with Boyle portraying a sensitive, gruff loner dealing with the worst of curses. The episode seems to be heavily influenced by the works of H. Essentially, the episode is about the government using television signals to drive people to madness. This not only makes filing faster but makes it much easier to find documents afterward. An FBI manhunt ensues, with agents in pursuit of an antagonist that can alter their very perceptions of reality. The beauty of customizing your filing system this way is that it can always be further subdivided and organized if you need to. This grisly, nightmare-inducing episode about an inbred family of killers was so terrifying and controversial that Fox famously decreed that it would never be aired again after its initial broadcast prompted a flood of complaints from concerned viewers. I could stop at that as a reason to watch, but there's more. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
    [Show full text]
  • Constructing the Witch in Contemporary American Popular Culture
    "SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES": CONSTRUCTING THE WITCH IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE Catherine Armetta Shufelt A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY December 2007 Committee: Dr. Angela Nelson, Advisor Dr. Andrew M. Schocket Graduate Faculty Representative Dr. Donald McQuarie Dr. Esther Clinton © 2007 Catherine A. Shufelt All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Dr. Angela Nelson, Advisor What is a Witch? Traditional mainstream media images of Witches tell us they are evil “devil worshipping baby killers,” green-skinned hags who fly on brooms, or flaky tree huggers who dance naked in the woods. A variety of mainstream media has worked to support these notions as well as develop new ones. Contemporary American popular culture shows us images of Witches on television shows and in films vanquishing demons, traveling back and forth in time and from one reality to another, speaking with dead relatives, and attending private schools, among other things. None of these mainstream images acknowledge the very real beliefs and traditions of modern Witches and Pagans, or speak to the depth and variety of social, cultural, political, and environmental work being undertaken by Pagan and Wiccan groups and individuals around the world. Utilizing social construction theory, this study examines the “historical process” of the construction of stereotypes surrounding Witches in mainstream American society as well as how groups and individuals who call themselves Pagan and/or Wiccan have utilized the only media technology available to them, the internet, to resist and re- construct these images in order to present more positive images of themselves as well as build community between and among Pagans and nonPagans.
    [Show full text]
  • (Heads Tails Xfiles).Pdf
    jHeads & tails M.M. FaeFae GlasgowGlasgow Bene Dictum IV An X-Files Slash Zine Bene Dictum IV: Heads & Tails Bene Dictum IV: Heads & Tails an anthology of X-Files slash fiction is available from: 71,500 words OBLIQUE PUBLICATIONS editing and design by Caroline K. Carbis P.O. BOX 43784 TUCSON, AZ USA 85733-3784 email: [email protected] An age statement is required with all orders. Also available from Oblique Publications (Note: All publications are slash and require an age statement with each and every order.) Journey West WARNING: A Professionals slash novel THIS ANTHOLOGY CONTAINS SAME-SEX, By Maiden Wyoming ADULT-ORIENTED MATERIAL. IT WILL NOT BE SOLD TO ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF the OBLAQUE series (Blake’s 7 slash) EIGHTEEN. Oblaque Oblaquer Oblaquest Oblaque IV: to be taken intravenously Oblaque V: in venery veritas Beginning 1999 Oblaque Sextus Oblique Publications’ library of zines will be available the BENT COPPERS series (Professionals slash) for free download in PDF format from its website. …As a £3 Note www.oblique-publications.net …As Two £3 Notes …As Three £3 Notes the PÆAN TO PRIAPUS series (multi-media and literary slash) Pæan to Priapus, volumes I, II, III, IV, V, VI the BENE DICTUM series (well put, well said, well dicked) Bene Dictum I: A Dickensian Christmas by M. FAE GLASGOW (Christmas themed Professionals stories) Bene Dictum II: Half ’n’ Half (Half Professionals/Half Blake’s 7) Bene Dictum III: Naughts & Crosses (Three Professionals novellas by Sebastian, Helen Raven, & M. Fae Glasgow) Bene Dictum IV: Heads & Tails is an amateur publication, copyright © February 1999 by Oblique Publications.
    [Show full text]
  • Oaths of Office Frequently Asked Questions
    Oaths of Office Frequently Asked Questions 1) What is an Oath? An oath (from Anglo-Saxon āð, also called plight) is either a promise or a statement of fact calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath. In law, oaths are made by a witness to a court of law before giving testimony and usually by a newly- appointed government officer to the people of a state before taking office. In both of those cases, though, an affirmation can be usually substituted. A written statement, if the author swears the statement is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is called an affidavit. The oath given to support an affidavit is frequently administered by a notary public who will memorialize the giving of the oath by affixing her or his seal to the document. Breaking an oath (or affirmation) is perjury. (Source, Wikipedia) What it means to be sworn in? Government Code 3100. It is hereby declared that the protection of the health and safety and preservation of the lives and property of the people of the state from the effects of natural, manmade, or war-caused emergencies which result in conditions of disaster or in extreme peril to life, property, and resources is of paramount state importance requiring the responsible efforts of public and private agencies and individual citizens. In furtherance of the exercise of the police power of the state in protection of its citizens and resources, all public employees are hereby declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.
    [Show full text]
  • Regimes of Truth in the X-Files
    Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 1-1-1999 Aliens, bodies and conspiracies: Regimes of truth in The X-files Leanne McRae Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Film and Media Studies Commons Recommended Citation McRae, L. (1999). Aliens, bodies and conspiracies: Regimes of truth in The X-files. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ theses/1247 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1247 Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 1999 Aliens, bodies and conspiracies : regimes of truth in The -fiX les Leanne McRae Edith Cowan University Recommended Citation McRae, L. (1999). Aliens, bodies and conspiracies : regimes of truth in The X-files. Retrieved from http://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1247 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. http://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1247 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. Where the reproduction of such material is done without attribution of authorship, with false attribution of authorship or the authorship is treated in a derogatory manner, this may be a breach of the author’s moral rights contained in Part IX of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
    [Show full text]
  • The X-Files Mythology Volume 2 – Black Oil
    The X-Files Mythology Volume 2 – Black Oil PDF generated using the open source mwlib toolkit. See http://code.pediapress.com/ for more information. PDF generated at: Sun, 18 May 2014 19:28:27 UTC Contents Articles Overview 1 The X-Files Mythology, Volume 2 – Black Oil 1 Episodes 6 "Nisei" 6 "731" 11 "Piper Maru" 16 "Apocrypha" 21 "Talitha Cumi" 25 "Herrenvolk" 30 "Tunguska" 34 "Terma" 38 "Memento Mori" 41 "Tempus Fugit" 45 "Max" 49 "Zero Sum" 53 "Gethsemane" 57 "Redux" 61 References Article Sources and Contributors 67 Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 68 Article Licenses License 69 1 Overview The X-Files Mythology, Volume 2 – Black Oil The X-Files Mythology Volume 2 – Black Oil Region 1 DVD cover Country of origin United States No. of episodes 15 Home video release DVD release Region 1 August 2, 2005 Series chronology ← Previous Volume 1 – Abduction Next → Volume 3 – Colonization Volume 2 of The X-Files Mythology collection is the second DVD release containing selected episodes from the third to the fifth seasons of the American science fiction television series The X-Files. The episodes collected in the release form the middle of the series' mythology, and are centered on the discovery of a mind-altering extraterrestrial "black oil". The collection contains five episodes from the third season, eight from the fourth season, and two from the fifth. The episodes follow the investigations of paranormal-related cases, or X-Files, by FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). Mulder is a believer in the paranormal, while the skeptical Scully has been assigned to debunk his work.
    [Show full text]
  • Art of the X-Files
    On May 19th 2013, fans of The X-Files were given a rare treat; a chance to spend time with the minds behind the art of The X-Files. The event, held at the iconic Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles, and celebrated by the Art Directors Guild Film Society, the American Cinematheque, and The Hollywood Reporter, brought together production designer Corey Kaplan (The X-Files, Scandal, Cold Case, Robbery Homicide Division), writer-producer-director Vince Gilligan (The X-Files, Breaking Bad, The Lone Gunmen, Harsh Realm) and Creator-Writer-Producer-Director Chris Carter (The X-Files, Harsh Realm, Millennium, The Lone Gunmen). Moderated by production designer John Muto (Home Alone, River’s Edge, Terminator 2 3-D), the event presented the art and design of The X-Files by screening “Je Souhaite” and “Triangle” and included a panel discussion. What made this event unique is that as a television viewing audience, we often celebrate and obsess over actors, and at times writers and producers. We become deeply connected to the characters and to the story of the hardships they face. However, the world that is created by the Art Department under the guidance of the Production Designer often goes unmentioned. This is likely due to the ability of the visual medium to submerse the viewer into an environment so compelling that we momentarily suspend belief. We forget the complexities of set design and construction, of picking out the right costumes and maintaining outfit continuity, of choosing makeup that both enhances the character yet seems realistic, of creating convincing special effects, and the arduous search for the perfect location.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mulder Effect: I Want to Believe...In STEAM
    The STEAM Journal Volume 4 Issue 2 The Specimen of 2020 Article 14 December 2020 The Mulder Effect: I Want to Believe...in STEAM Olivia Burgess South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/steam Part of the Film and Media Studies Commons Recommended Citation Burgess, Olivia (2020) "The Mulder Effect: I Want to Believe...in STEAM," The STEAM Journal: Vol. 4: Iss. 2, Article 14. DOI: 10.5642/steam.20200402.14 Available at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/steam/vol4/iss2/14 © December 2020 by the author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommerical-NoDerivatives License. STEAM is a bi-annual journal published by the Claremont Colleges Library | ISSN 2327-2074 | http://scholarship.claremont.edu/steam The Mulder Effect: I Want to Believe...in STEAM Abstract The balance that Mulder and Scully discover in their partnership on The X-Files represents the balance we find in STEAM: trust in science with the ability ot question, imagine, and dream. Keywords STEAM, literature Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This reflection is available in The STEAM Journal: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/steam/vol4/iss2/14 Burgess: The Mulder Effect The Mulder Effect: I Want to Believe...in STEAM Olivia Burgess Abstract: The balance that Mulder and Scully discover in their partnership on The X-Files represents the balance we find in STEAM: trust in science with the ability to question, imagine, and dream. In 2018, the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media Studies released a report titled “The Scully Effect: I Want to Believe...in STEM.” The report lends scientific credibility to the “Scully effect,” a phenomenon named after scientist Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is the Distinction Between a Blockchain and a Distributed Ledger?
    Blockchain Byte R3 Research Emily Rutland The Blockchain Byte features a question from the distributed ledger space What is the distinction between a blockchain and a distributed ledger? Blockchain has a While often used interchangeably, a blockchain and a shared and replicated distributed ledger are distinct – though subtly different – technologies. ledger comprised of information stored in A distributed ledger is a record of consensus with a “blocks” and sits below cryptographic audit trail which is maintained and validated by several separate nodes*. This a distributed ledger cryptographically assured and synchronized data can be and acts as a way to spread across multiple institutions. Distributed ledgers can verify transactions be either decentralized, granting equal rights within the submitted by protocol to all participants or centralized, designating producing a new certain users particular rights. Actors typically employ “block” to the chain. distributed ledgers when they need a tool which permits the concurrent editing of a shared state while maintaining its unicity. The ledger’s state is determined through a Distributed ledger is a consensus algorithm, which can vary in its mechanics but record of consensus ultimately serves to validate information from inputs to the with cryptographic network. audit trail maintained and validated by nodes. It can be decentralized or centralized. For more Blockchain Byte posts, R3 members visit: 2 https://r3-cev.atlassian.net/wiki/x/HgEwAw What are Blocks and Why Aren’t They Necessary? Often described as the technology that underpins the Bitcoin network, a blockchain data structure has a shared, replicated ledger comprised of digitally recorded and unchangeable data in packages called blocks.
    [Show full text]
  • The X-Files "Flight 180" by Jeffrey Reddick
    X-FILES "Flight 180" by Jeffrey Reddick Based The X-Files by Chris Carter Copyright - 1994 TEASER EXT. NEWARK AIRPORT - NIGHT A faint rains falls as PLANES take off and land. We move in towards a large 747 sitting at the gate. This is Flight 180. INT. FLIGHT 180 - NIGHT The plane is filled-to-capacity. We slowly move down the aisle. As we do several passengers catch our eye: JOSH and MONICA. Early twenties. Matching GAP outfits. JOSH I told you, after the party she needed a place to crash. MONICA So you let her crash with you? In your bed? And nothing happened? Do you think I'm a complete idiot? A few rows back is NIKKI, late teens, jams to a loud tune on her headphones. AARON - 32. A preppy man with striking red hair, taps Nikki on the shoulder. AARON Excuse me...you mind turning that down? I've got a killer headache. Nikki flashes a flirty smile and obliges. Across the aisle we see ELIZABETH and TREVOR CARYLE...AN ELDERLY COUPLE. Elizabeth is trying to finish a crossword puzzle. ELIZABETH Nine letters. Starts with an E. Capable of mass destruction. TREVOR Oh, I've got it....Elizabeth. (beat. Laughing) Explosion. We stop on A MAN. (*Sharp viewers will recognize him as CHARLES SCULLY - Dana Scully's younger brother from "Beyond The Sea.") ON CHARLES Late-twenties. Handsome. Dressed in a wrinkled suit. Charles looks nervous. Sweat glistens on his face. 2. His eyes dart around the cabin. Charles takes a deep breath, trying to relax.
    [Show full text]