Film Art and Culture 2009 Culture and Identity 28 February 2009

Defining “culture” Culture can be defined as all the ways of life, arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called "the way of life for an entire society." As such, it includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, norms of behavior such as law and morality, and systems of belief as well as the art. Tylor (British social anthropologist) in 1874 described culture in the following way: "Culture or civilization, taken in its wide ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."

More recently, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) (2002) described culture as follows: "... culture should be regarded as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs".

Film –A product of culture –Has its own culture of representation –Capable of reflecting culture of a community –Can be used to discuss/challenge dominating culture –Can be the foundation of a new culture

(individual) films made by directors –A medium to express an individual’s perception of his/her existence in the context of the culture(s) –An invitation to the viewers to understand the issues described in the film –A request to the viewers to reflect on their own cultures and their identities within those cultures

Film as a tool for communication –Film maker sending message to film viewers –Film viewers are also active participants in the communication process of film viewing: Writing reviews Starting discussions Personal understanding (with the help of one’s own culture, experience and knowledge)

Educating Rita (1983) “Education” and Culture TEXT –A woman going to university to get an education and the problems she encounters SUBTEXT –Reflections concerning education: Why do we need education? What does an education mean? Is education always a good thing?

Screening

Class activity In the film the female protagonist has used 3 names. What is the significance of these 3 names? Get into groups of 6 people. Each group will have: 2xMrs. White, 2xRita, 2xSusan Suppose you meet each other in a bar, and you start discussing what makes a good life. (10 minutes)

3 identities… Mrs. White –someone’s wife –at an early stage of the pursuit of a better life –not sure about what it will mean –a professional lady’s hairdresser

Rita –an individual –reading books and admiring educated or cultured people –wanting to be an educated person too –idea of education is to read and pass exams

Susan –back to being herself (not a wife, not a person to depend on others) –real –dare to have her own opinions and views –proud of herself –education is a means to get to meet certain people

Discussions What do you see as the turning point of Rita’s education? Do you also see Dr. Bryant learning from Rita? What has he learnt from her? Does the education make or unmake Rita?

Culture and Identity Everyday culture: –everyone behaves in a particular way in their own environment (acceptable behaviour) –one notices one’s culture usually when he or she moves into another environment where there is a different set of acceptable behaviour –by changing one’s behaviour, one is adapting to or taking up a different identity

Culture in the sense of elite knowledge: –knowledge about the greatest aspirations of human creation (literature, the arts, history, philosophy, etc.) –more occupied with the how and the why of various aspects of life –for reflection and understanding – also contributing to the construction of one’s identity

Assignment You have seen the film Educating Rita – how Rita the working woman has gone through a journey of growth (intellectual, emotional, spiritual), and how other people have either played a role or been affected. Write about a scene which has a great impact on you. Explain why that scene captures your attention.