The video I chose is called “Social
Courtesy,” and it belongs to a group called Coronet Instructional Films. It was
made in 1951 and basically shows the audience how to be friendlier people and
the types of social graces that will make other people like you better. The
entire video shows the main character, Bill, performing rude actions towards
his peers. After each action, an unidentifiable speaker tells him how to do this
differently. Bill is then placed in the same scenario and acts in a friendlier
manner, and everyone around him is happier.
This video is useful to students in
an information society class because it contains certain aspects of the control
revolution framework, and can be used as an example of it. Although the main
point is to make people friendlier in general, it shows people how to act in
extremely specific ways and say specific things. It exemplifies a certain amount of
control that society wanted over every aspect of life. In addition, it is
interesting that this type of lesson was shown in an instructional video,
rather than a book or pamphlet. Because of the young actors and actresses in
the film, it may have been intended to be shown in schools.
This is definitely suppose to be a simple video for young students on how to be friendly but it comes off as a control revolution piece. Everyone is different and has their own personality, yet this video seems like there's friendly and not friendly and this is what you should say and do if you want to be friendly. It's interesting to analyze .
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was intended to be shown in schools, as I feel like I've seen similar skits in the past. It definitely exemplifies qualities of the Control revolution in the specific examples it gives. I'm sure that in their day this video was a new and exciting technology, making it fun to learn about.
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