UWG Gran Torino Movie that Focuses on The Ageist Assumptions Discussion Questions
In this discussion, pick ONE film to write about and answer questions below the film descriptions. If it has been a while since you have seen these films, they are available through online sources and various rental outlets. Although I have provided links to some of the films (links provided on "Instructions" page in note above), I cannot guarantee they are still operable. If the links do not work, try your own online sources.
Dances with Wolves (1990). Lt. John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) is assigned to the Western frontier on his own request after an act of bravery. He finds himself at an abandoned outpost. At first he maintains strict order using the methods and practices taught to him by the military, but as the film progresses, he makes friends with a nearby Native American tribe, and his perceptions of the military, the frontier, and Native Americans change dramatically.
Working Girl (1988). Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) works as a secretary for a large firm involved in acquiring media corporations such as radio and television. When her boss has a skiing accident, Tess gets a chance to use her own ideas and research, ideas that she has been keeping within herself for years – ideas that are arguably better, and more insightful into mass media practices, than her boss’s ideas were.
Schindler’s List (1993). In Poland during World War II, Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis. He initially was motivated by profit, but as the war progressed he began to sympathize with his Jewish workers and attempted to save them. He was credited with saving over 1000 Jews from extermination. (Based on a true story.)
Gran Torino (2008). Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood), a recently widowed Korean War veteran alienated from his family and angry at the world. Walt's young neighbor, an Asian American, is pressured into stealing Walt's prized 1972 Ford Gran Torino by his cousin for his initiation into a gang. Walt thwarts the theft and subsequently develops a relationship with the boy and his family.
Post 1
Classmate 1:Describe the specific theories, assumptions, or “schools of thought” that the characters in the film have. How do their schools of thought differ?In the Beginning, Walt was a grumpy and unhappy about everything in life. He was mourning, because his wife had just passed. He didn’t seem to have a good relationship with anyone, not even his grandkids.Sue was smart and kind to Walt, it seemed she was the only person that had some type of effect on him.Thoa was smart and quiet, he was peer pressured to hang with his cousin (Spider), who wanted him to join their gang.The Koreans did not trust Walt.How do the main characters change over the course of a film? How do their goals or desires change? Do they see themselves differently by the end of the film?Yes. In this movie Walt Kowalski played as Clint Eastwood is a grumpy tough minded unhappy old man who cannot get along with either his kids or his neighbors. After he saves Sue from being harassed. He begins to change the way he thinks about her and her brother.Throughout the movie the Koreans begin to like Walt, and they made Thoa work for Walt to payoff his debt for trying to steal his car. Walt and Thoa built a relationship.After Walt goes to the doctor, he begins to change, by reaching out to his son.By the end of the film Walt develops a close relationship with the Koreans and begin protecting them from Spider and his gang.Which reflective theory from the course best illustrates the process the main characters go through during the film? How so?The theory I think that best illustrates the main characters are Korthagen and Vasalos, this process describes self-transformation through learning experiences and reflection on those experiences as a feedback loop. We have some action that we undertake, we look back on it, we become aware of essential aspects of it and we create and think up new alternative modes of action. The idea here is that reflective learning is a developmental process, a process in which we see what works and what doesn’t work, and we modify what we do based on how it is working, over and over again, perhaps all the time.In the film there were a few times Walt reflected on his past experiences. For example, One of Sue’s family member’s read Walt and told him that he was unhappy with decision that he made in the past, as if he was carrying a burden. Another example is when Walt went to the church and confessed to the priest how he had been a bad father to his kids, and this weighed on him for years. After reflecting on these experiences, this allowed Walt to be a better mentor and father figure to Sue and Thoa.Would you say that the main characters evolved or grew after learning something that was new, or a new approach, a new theory, or a new understanding of their place in the world?Yes. One of Sue’s family member’s read Walt and told him that he was unhappy with decision that he made in the past, as if he was carrying a burden. After this Walt began spending more time with Sue and Thoa. Initially, Walt didn’t like Thoa because he tried to steal his car, but after spending time with him that slowly began to change. Towards the end of the movie Walt began to mentor Thoa, found him a job, and died to protect Thoa and his family. Before Walt died, he considered himself and Thoa to be good friends, he even left him his most prized possession (his Gran Torino).
Post 2
Classmate 2:Describe the specific theories, assumptions, or “schools of thought” that the characters in the film have. How do their schools of thought differ?Gran Torino is based on tolerance, cultural differences, self-sacrifice, and hope. Walt Kowalski and Thao Vang start a friendship while trying to uncover racism and violence in their community. The assumption in the movie is that Walt is a bitter elderly man who is "prejudice" against everyone and wouldn't help Thao against the pressure of joining a gang. Instead Walt has what Kegan & Lahey call a "self-transforming mind" and helps Thao defer from the gang life and helps him put an end towards the crimes and hatred being committed. Walt stepped back from his own self thoughts and reflected on how Thao was a helpless boy being bullied and was in danger needing his assistance. The "school of thoughts" were different for Walt, he fought in the war so his mentality was to end war with war. He was battling his own demons and his own personal beliefs of not being able to not trust anyone due to the trauma he had endured. How do the main characters change over the course of a film? How do their goals or desires change? Do they see themselves differently by the end of the film?Walt changes throughout the film with finally being able to come to terms with his past. In the beginning, he was reluctant to trust anyone especially the "koreans" due to the war he was involved with. Thao helped changed his outlook and he began to care for him and he helped fill the "void." Walt had lost his wife and his two sons were more worried about valuable assets, so it was comforting to Walt to have someone take an interest and care for him. He confessed about the medal and started to self-reflect while being diagnosed with cancer. His desire changed of wanting to be alone and being angry at the world to admitting he missed his wife and wanting to be with her again. His guilty prospered throughout the movie shining a light on racism and violence going on in the world. I feel Walt saw himself differently at the end while having a shoot out battle with the gang, he left the car to Thao in the will. Not only did his self-less act cause the gang to be arrested but he had a change of heart by gaining a friendship.Which reflective theory from the course best illustrates the process the main characters go through during the film? How so?Walt goes through "self-authoring mind" he was stuck in his own set beliefs. He didn't want to let anyone in and change his thought process because he had grown accustomed with his own thoughts. Later in the movie, Walt began to self-reflect on his past and his guilt he suffered from having to kill people in the war. Walt stepped back and at the end of the movie had a new belief on being able to trust someone again.Would you say that the main characters evolved or grew after learning something that was new, or a new approach, a new theory, or a new understanding of their place in the world?Walt Kowalski evolved tremendously in this movie once he gained a new approach on life. Thao helped Walt see that there is still "good trustworthy people" in the world. His approach on being angry and racial profiling came to an end after helping Thao with the troubles of the gang.Kolb, David A. “The Three Phases of Reflection and the Self.” Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1984. https://go.view.usg.edu/d2l/le/content/2023309/viewContent/35555986/View.Kegan and Lahey. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://go.view.usg.edu/d2l/le/content/2023309/viewContent/35555982/View