Critical Analysis: How to use it in the classroom

I think looking at video clips and commercials in a great way to introduce students to the idea of using theory. There are so many good examples of many of the theories. Doing this activity was fun for me, and I think students would enjoy bringing in their favorite movies and discussing them. Doing different types of analysis sheds light to new perspectives of a text that can be overlooked. Using critical lenses helps students look deep, past the surface level and critique what they are watching and seeing. They also must think of how it relates to their own life as well. Critical analysis helps students think about the world in different ways and from different perspectives. Students are able make some pretty engaging comments about society, as Deb Appleman talked about yesterday in her presentation in our class on Tuesday. Some of the ideas students come up with after using critical lenses are really great and show that learning has taken place. I think after apply theory to film, students would be pretty well set up to dive into theory in books as well. I enjoyed this assignment and I think students will too.