Moonlight Analysis
Assignment 3: Movie Review Analysis Paper (30%)
Purpose of Analysis Paper: To have a thorough discussion evaluating life course dimensions and multiple dimensions of the person-in-environment conceptualization as based on the main character in the movie Moonlight.
Description: The paper should discuss concepts from the Hutchison book Dimensions of Human Behavior. Social workers become a part of many unfolding life stories, and we want to have a way of thinking about them. Person, environment, and time interact dynamically. Relationships are reconfigured as the multiple influences on human behavior ebb and flow. The actions of one person can only be understood in relation to the actions of other people and in relation to ever changing situations. The same person in a different environment, or the same environment with a different person, most likely will yield different behaviors. We also understand human behavior from the life course perspective which recognizes patterns related to biological age, psychological age, and social age as well as diversity related to historical time, gender, race, ethnicity, social class, etc. The life course perspective also recognizes the unique life stories of individuals-the unique configuration of specific life events and person-environment transactions over time. In this paper you will want to think about the different people in the movie and how they influenced each other and the ways in which their environments and the broader culture impacted their lives.
Paper length: 6-8 pages. Use APA guidelines for writing style and format.
Outline of Analysis Paper
I. Introduction: A brief description of the film (NOT a long description of events, but more along the lines of what is to follow in the successive parts of the paper)
II. The following chapters discuss development at various life course stages: Chapter 4: Early Childhood, Chapter 5: Middle Childhood, and Chapter 6: Adolescence. Healthy development is in many ways defined by the environment and culture in which a child is raised. Take one of these three chapters (4, 5 or 6) and discuss Chiron’s (the main character’s) development using at least two of the various perspectives/theories from the chapter that are useful in helping you to assess and understand Chiron. Please provide examples from the movie as you discuss the concepts.
III. There are multiple dimensions of person perspectives discussed in the Chapters 6 and 7. These chapters provide a variety of theoretical “lenses” through which we can better understand problematic behaviors, their connection to individual functioning and interventions for positive change. Discuss at least one theoretical perspective from one of the Chapters in reference to the movie and how this perspective is useful in helping you to assess and understand Chiron’s functioning. Please provide examples from the movie as you discuss the concepts.
IV. Finally, speak to the film and the main character’s story in terms of:
a) The Psychological Self – How does Chiron’s life challenge reflects his personal psychology (cognitive, spiritual, and identity – (including sexual) – development)?
b) Take an intersectional approach and discuss some of the salient issues pertaining to race, class and gender (of the main characters NOT just Chiron) and how these psychosocial characteristics impact the story that is told in Moonlight.
c) Families – Families are one of the key institutions that are in almost every society and perhaps no other relationships contribute as much to our identity and have such pervasive influence on all dimensions of our lives as our family relationships. Discuss how family is portrayed in the film, the impact of family on the main character, and the ways roles and characters change with the family over the life course.