Reflections on how media portrayal of urban education influences public opinion
At first glance, it's hard to be critical of such "inspirational" stories as Freedom Writers, Dangerous Minds, Half Nelson, Stand and Deliver, Blackboard Jungle and the many other films focused on teachers who transform underachieving students into successful adults. Upon further analysis, however, it becomes evident that many of these stories resort to a trope known as the "white savior" or "culture of poverty" film. This archetype focuses on a white main character who plays the "hero," empowering students to "change" their world. This Hollywood version of the story ends up perpetuating racism by suggesting that urban education cannot be fixed without the help of wealthy white people. The teacher typically stands out while the students are mainly thought of as a collective. The story is more about the self-fulfillment of the white hero -- and providing the audience with a "feel good" message -- than the journey of the students as individuals.
I'm going to take a closer look into a few example of these movies and the way their stories play out.
I'm going to take a closer look into a few example of these movies and the way their stories play out.