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Date: Oct 4, 2005
Level: Harder (Try the easier lesson.) Downloads: Word Doc | PDF Doc | Listening Audio: (1:59 - 234.1 KB - 16kbps)
THE ARTICLEResearchers have blamed Hollywood movies for the rise in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unplanned or unwanted pregnancies and a culture in which drugs are seen as an acceptable way to relax. A team from two Australian universities, reporting in Britain’s Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine*, analyzed the portrayal of sex and drug use in the most popular movies of the last 20 years. Observers recorded data regarding “sexual activity, STD prevention, birth control measures, drug use and any consequences discussed or depicted”. The report concluded: “Drug use, though infrequent, tended to be depicted positively. The social norm being presented is concerning given the HIV and illicit drug pandemics in developing and industrialized countries.” The journal article singles out the 2003 James Bond movie Die Another Day and the thriller Basic Instinct as key offenders. These movies often depicted unprotected sex with first-time partners without any reference to condoms, AIDS or birth control. The Julia Roberts movie, Pretty Woman, was the only movie in the study to mention condoms. The study also found scant regard given to the dangers of drug use. It revealed: “Movies with cannabis and other non-injected illicit drugs…tended to portray their use positively and without negative consequences.” Lead researcher Dr. Hasantha Gunasekera suggested Hollywood should be more responsible in its movie output, behaviors from which are seen, assimilated and copied by billions around the world. * http://www.jrsm.org/cgi/content/abstract/98/10/464 WARM-UPS1. MOVIE DIRECTORS: You are now a Hollywood movie director. Walk around the classroom and talk with other “directors” about the movies you have made and want to make; the stars you have worked with and want to work with; and your attitude towards sex scenes and the portrayal of drug use. 2. MOVIES: Should Hollywood movies educate or entertain? In pairs / groups, discuss what you think movies should show or not show regarding the following:
3. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words are most interesting and which are most boring.
Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently. 4. CONDOMS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with condoms. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories. 5. MOVIE OPINIONS: How far do you agree with these opinions on movies and Hollywood’s responsibility towards sex and drugs? Talk about them with your partner(s).
BEFORE READING / LISTENING1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
AFTER READING / LISTENINGGAP FILL: Put the words in the column on the right into the gaps in the text. Movies condone drugs and unsafe sex
AFTER READING / LISTENING1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘birth’ and ‘control’.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the gap fill. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…? 4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings. 5. STUDENT “SEX AND DRUGS IN MOVIES” SURVEY: In pairs / groups, write down questions about Hollywood’s responsibility in producing movies with positive messages about sex and drugs.
6. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:
DISCUSSIONSTUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.
SPEAKINGMOVIE CONTENT: In pairs / groups, decide on a policy about what should and should not be allowed in movies. The items you must agree on are listed in the left hand column. Determine whether your policy is for educational or entertainment purposes.
Change partners and tell each other about your policies. Discuss which three policy ideas should be adopted and how they might be made more acceptable to movie-goers. LISTENINGListen and fill in the spaces. Movies condone drugs and unsafe sexResearchers have _______ Hollywood movies for the rise in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unplanned or unwanted ____________ and a culture in which drugs are seen as an acceptable way to relax. A team from two Australian universities, reporting in Britain’s Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, analyzed the ___________ of sex and drug use in the most popular movies of the last 20 years. Observers recorded data regarding “sexual activity, STD ___________, birth control measures, drug use and any ___________ discussed or _________”. The report concluded: “Drug use, though infrequent, tended to be depicted positively. The social norm being presented is concerning given the HIV and illicit drug ____________ in developing and industrialized countries.” The journal article ________ _____ the 2003 James Bond movie Die Another Day and the thriller Basic Instinct as key offenders. These movies often depicted _____________ sex with first-time partners without any reference to condoms, AIDS or birth control. The Julia Roberts movie, Pretty Woman, was the only movie in the study to _________ condoms. The study also found _________ regard given to the dangers of drug use. It revealed: “Movies with cannabis and other non-injected _________ drugs…tended to portray their use positively and without _________ consequences.” Lead researcher Dr. Hasantha Gunasekera suggested Hollywood should be more responsible in its movie output, behaviors from which are seen, _____________ and copied by billions around the world. HOMEWORK1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word. 2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information on Hollywood movies. Share your findings with your class in the next lesson. 3. MOVIE REVIEW: Write a report on a movie you have seen recently. Report on things that might negatively influence people and things that give a positive message. Show your reports to your classmates in your next lesson. Did you all write about similar things? 4. LETTER: Write a letter to the head of the Hollywood Movie Association. Make suggestions for how movies might be used to both educate and entertain. Read your letter to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all write about similar things? ANSWERSTRUE / FALSE:
SYNONYM MATCH:
PHRASE MATCH:
GAP FILL: Movies condone drugs and unsafe sexBNE: Researchers have blamed Hollywood movies for the rise in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unplanned or unwanted pregnancies and a culture in which drugs are seen as an acceptable way to relax. A team from two Australian universities, reporting in Britain’s Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, analyzed the portrayal of sex and drug use in the most popular movies of the last 20 years. Observers recorded data regarding “sexual activity, STD prevention, birth control measures, drug use and any consequences discussed or depicted”. The report concluded: “Drug use, though infrequent, tended to be depicted positively. The social norm being presented is concerning given the HIV and illicit drug pandemics in developing and industrialized countries.” The journal article singles out the 2003 James Bond movie Die Another Day and the thriller Basic Instinct as key offenders. These movies often depicted unprotected sex with first-time partners without any reference to condoms, AIDS or birth control. The Julia Roberts movie, Pretty Woman, was the only movie in the study to mention condoms. The study also found scant regard given to the dangers of drug use. It revealed: “Movies with cannabis and other non-injected illicit drugs…tended to portray their use positively and without negative consequences.” Lead researcher Dr. Hasantha Gunasekera suggested Hollywood should be more responsible in its movie output, behaviors from which are seen, assimilated and copied by billions around the world.
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