Film
Festival - What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Wednesday
- March 15, 2006
MAC Playhouse - 3:30 pm
- 6:15 PM
College Now Course - Behavioral/Social
Sciences
Hosted by: Dr. Robert Singer, Professor of English
College Now English Course Coordinator
Dr. Voorhees Dunn, College Now Behavioral/Social Sciences Course Coordinator
About
the Movie: What's
Eating Gilbert Grape
Director, Lasse Hallstrom - Rating PG 13
So exactly what is eating Gilbert Grape? Before he became a major star,
Johnny Depp played Gilbert, a young man who discovers that taking care of
his mentally challenged younger brother, (in a remarkable performance by Leonardo
DiCaprio), as well as helping his extremely overweight mother, makes it almost
impossible for him to have his own life. Love, and automobile trouble will
change things for Gilbert, but nothing is ever quite that simple. What's
Eating Gilbert Grape is about the life of an atypical American family.
About
the Presenter: Dr. Voorhees Dunn
Dr. Voorhees Dunn is an associate professor of political science. He earned
his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Rutgers University. Prior to joining
the faculty at Kingsborough, he taught at Virginia Commonwealth University
in Richmond, The University of Texas at Dallas and The University of South
Alabama at Mobile. As a student of history, Dr. Dunn has always been fascinated
by how each of us plays a different role in society and the complexity of
our interactions.
Extra Credit Assignments
ACT - Prep
In
the film, What's Eating Gilbert Grape the viewer saw a young man suffering
from a mild form of a physically debilitating mental illness, as well as the
effects that extreme obesity had on his mother. What if scientific and medical
research led to the removal, or "correction" of the malfunctioning
gene that caused these illnesses, or even heart disease and cancer? Would
you support this research financially, politically, and morally? In contrast
with this statement, what if science made it possible for parents to "engineer"
blue eyes for their unborn children instead of green eyes, or made it possible
for male children rather than female children to be born? Science and medical
research cannot only clone cells and DNA, soon, it will be able to reproduce
life and engineer the genetic makeup of human beings in forms only imaginable
to science fiction writers in the past. The atomic research of the previous
century had mixed results, from nuclear power to the atomic bomb. Soon, we
will be able to make "designer people."
You have been asked to write a letter to the local newspaper in which you
will express your view concerning the issue of (pre-birth) genetic engineering.
Is the possibility of such genetic engineering to remove potential speech
or physical defects, such as those demonstrated in the film What's Eating
Gilbert Grape a proper use of scientific and medical research? Do you
think this is morally sound? Who should pay for this research: privately funded
companies, universities, taxpayers? Who should own this research? Who should
control or establish "rules" for such experimentation: business
leaders, the government, the church, anybody? In this new millennium, should
society develop this scientific ability? Is this our destiny? In your letter,
fully discuss your view; you may refer to recent events, such as the cloning
of sheep or other forms of scientific experimentation, other important opinions,
television or newspaper coverage, or even the film What's Eating Gilbert
Grape.
Mini-Research Project
(NOTE: This
is NOT a research paper - it is a research-oriented experience in which
students gather information. They can prepare outlines, note-cards, a bibliography,
cite references, or practice any combination of these skills associated with
preparing a research paper).
Utilizing the library and its resources, and/or material from the Internet,
prepare an investigative project that focuses on any one of these topics associated
with the film, What's Eating Gilbert Grape:
a) commonly occurring birth/speech defects
b) the working class in contemporary America
c) the obesity epidemic
d) Lasse Hallstrom, film director
Standard College Essay
Many
issues arise from the analysis and discussion of the film, What's Eating
Gilbert Grape. Some of the more important issues involve representing
working class people and their struggle for survival, keeping close family
relations, and acting responsibly toward the mentally and physically handicapped.
There are other related personal and social issues arising from the analysis
of this film, and these are only some suggested and significant themes to
consider.
In
a full-length essay (approximately 400-500 words), later to be revised for
content and correctness, discuss any of the issues raised in the film What's
Eating Gilbert Grape that you consider to be of special interest either
for yourself or for society. Feel free to refer to the film or any source
of information in your essay. Explain why and how these issues are significant
not only in the film but also in relationship to your own life or the lives
of other people.
Event
Photos What's Eating Gilbert Grape
- March 15, 2006
 |
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|
Dr.
Robert Singer welcomes students to the festival and provides background
information about the themes in the movie. |
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|
Dr.
Voorhees Dunn (left), BSS Course Coordinator, talks with Dr. Singer
about the issues in
Gilbert Grape that relate to the course. |