i don't want even to begin to address ed owens' wonderfully provocative question about offesnvely provocative films [or other materials] used in a classroom setting . . . i simply want to suggest tht while sudent sensibilities must obviously be a central consideration for anyone who takes teaching seriously, ANY answer to ed's question will inevitably have repurcussions for other areas in which student sensibilities might be at risk . . . specifically: what do we do about issues such as evolution with students whose religious beliefs make such issues offensive? . . . similarly, may we talk about freud to students whose lives include a serious investment in the notion of soul? . . . and how about teaching gay lit or film to those who find the very idea an abomination? . . . i'm not sure i see how we can readily distinguish between teaching gay materials to the homophobic on the one hand and teaching sexually explicit materials to the prudish on the other . . . at some point sensitivity or "political correctness" comes into conflict with academic freedom and intellectual integrity . . . so what do we do? . . . this is a much more complex problem than ed's apparently innocent question seems to suggest mike frank >===== Original Message From Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]> ===== >From: Ed Owens <drsloomis@ > >>Subject: ...Too Provocative... (was Re: VOYeuRISM Assistance) > >. > >This brings up an interesting question, specifically for those that teach >film. Are your film selections guided by a consideration for the >sensibilities of your intended audience? One time in particular, I was >approached by a student at the beginning of the semester and informed of >her >aversion to anything R-rated. I worked with the student to come up with >alternative films for the three in question, but wonder to what extent this >sort of practice should be employed. I'd be interested in hearing of >others >with similar experiences and how you handled them, as well as what your >feelings are towards providing alternatives (or even designing the class >around such issues in the first place). > >Ed > >---- >To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L >in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask] ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]