crash movie worksheet students 3. előadás

8/18/2019 Crash Movie WORKSHEET Students 3. Előadás

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Multiculturalism as portrayed by CRASH


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Multiculturalism as portrayed by CRASH

• Crash is a 2004 ensemble drama about racial and social tensions in LA,

California (originally it meant that the principal actors and performers areassigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time -

Hollywood : many well-known actors, even if most of them only have

minor or supporting roles)• All-star cast - they won Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding

Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

• Matt Dillon was particularly praised for his performance and received

Academy Award, and numerous nominations for Best Supporting Actor

• Crash was inspired by a real-life incident, in which the director’s

Porsche was carjacked outside a video store on Wilshire Boulevard in1991

• interlocking, cross-cutting Los Angeles stories of groups as whites,

blacks, Latinos, Koreans, Iranians, cops and criminals, the rich and the poor, the powerful and powerless

• intercultural, sociographic portrays in an enthnically mixed

megapolis

• characters defined by racial tensions and prejudices

• all are victims of it, and all are guilty of it – unbiasedness of directing

• characters leap to conclusions based on race

• the film teaches us to realize it is never too late to redeem (helyrehoz)

one’s self and change.

•

characters’ assumptions (elő) feltételezéseik) and the lack ofacceptance of other cultures prevent them from seeing and understandingthe actual individual person standing before them

• characters’ stereotypical thinking predetermine their judgements

• instead of showing characters at their best, like most popular movies do,

they are stressed out and pushed to their own emotional limits - unique

characterisation

• racist remarks and actions are often shown to come from ignorance

and misconception (tájékozatlanság és tévhit) rather than a

maliciousness and deliberateness (rosszindulatúság és szándékoltság) • PAUL HAGGIS (The director)

’I’m often inpired by what people say. Someone recently who had said :

‚Well I wrote that scene’. And I said: ‚ No, no you said those lines in real

life. And I remember them and write them down. IT’s not writing, it’s

saying.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6hAr9WkGec

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6hAr9WkGechttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6hAr9WkGechttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6hAr9WkGec


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Main protagonists in Crash

Do they undergo personal transformation for the better, for the worse or

remain stagnant?

1. Sandra Bullock as Jean Cabot

Jean Cabot is Rick's wife, whose racial prejudices escalate after thecarjacking. At the end of the film, following an accident in her home, she

realizes that the person who is the nicest and most helpful to her is Maria, her

Hispanic maid, while her snobby friends are too busy with shallow pursuits

(felszínes törekvések) to help her out.

2. Brendan Faser as Rick Cabot

Rick is the white District Attorney of L.A. (the state government

representative in the prosecution of criminal offenses - főügyész ). He and hiswife Jean’re carjacked by Anthony and Peter. He then tries to save his political

career by reassuring voters that he is racially sensitive (as he is a Democrat

and African Americans and Hispanics are his key ets). His character is never

shown as a a bigot*, which makes his racial stance ambiguous (faji alapállástkétértelműsít).

3. "Ludacris" Bridges as Anthony

Anthony is an African-American car thief who steals vehicles for abigoted* chop shop owner (a location or business which disassembles stolen

automobiles for the purpose of selling them as parts.) He believes that society

is unfairly biased against blacks, and justifies his actions by saying he wouldnever hurt another black person. Yet, after he and Peter try to carjack a car

driven by a black man Cameron, Anthony's response is to call on Peter to shoot

Cameron. He steals a van full of illegal immigrants from South East Asia

towards the end of the movie. Upon learning that the owner of the chop shop

that buys the stolen vehicles intends to sell them off as slaves; he releases all of

them out onto the streets of LA and gives them all his money.

4. Larenz Tate as Peter Waters

Peter is Anthony's friend and partner in crime. Like Anthony, he is black, but he

humorously mocks (gúnyol) at Anthony's paranoia over racism. Peter isshot to death by Officer Hansen, who picks him up in the valley hours after their

failed carjacking of Cameron's SUV and mistakenly shoots him after assuminghe’s taking a figure of Saint Christopher -he’s drawing from his pocket- for a

gun. The irony of the situation is that Peter and Officer Hansen’re portrayed ascharacters least suspected of racism and stereotypes up to that point.


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5. Terrence Howard as Cameron Thayer

Cameron is a black television director who becomes distraught (confused) after

witnessing Officer Ryan molesting his wife and realizing that the very show he

produces is propagating racist stereotypes about black people. In an

emotional moment, he fights off Anthony and Peter ( You embarrass me. You

embar rass yourself .„ ) when they try to steal his car, takes away Anthony's gun,gets himself into a harsh argument with armed white police officers. Just when

it is very likely that he will be shot to death, Officer Hansen intervenes on his

behalf and prevents any outbreak of violence.

6. Thandie Newton as Chr istine Thayer

Christine is Cameron's wife. She is molested by Officer Ryan after she and

Cameron are pulled over. She becomes furious with her husband because he

does not act to defend her. The two insult each other over their upbringings asboth Cameron and Christine have grown up in a more privileged

environment than other African Americans. The next day she is trapped in an

overturned car due to a highway accident and, by an exquisite twist of fate,

Officer Ryan is the man who willingly endangers himself to save her life.

7. Matt Dillon as Off icer John Ryan

Officer Ryan is a bigoted white police officer who physically molests Christine

Thayer, a black woman, during a traffic stop. This causes his partner, OfficerHansen, to believe his partner has racist tendencies. Ryan later works with a

newly-assigned, Hispanic - American whom he seems to get along with but

mockingly asks "ready to roll, homie". Ryan later puts his own life on the line

to save Christine from certain death in a fiery car wreck, which is unexpected

because he is considered among the film's most prejudiced characters.

8. Ryan Phillippe as Tom Hansen

Tom Hansen is Ryan's partner who is disgusted by his partner's racism andthe city's inaction. Remembering Cameron as the husband of Christine,

Hansen saves Cameron during his confrontation with the police. However, he

then engages in a racially tense conversation with Peter who he picks up as a

hitchhiker - draws his gun shoots, dumps the body and burns his car in an

attempt to hide evidence. This is one of the most surprising developments in

the film, as Officer Hansen begins as one of the least bigoted* , most righteous

characters.

* Bigoted =a prejudiced person who is intolerant of opinions, li festyles, oridentiti es dif fer ing from his or her own


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List of Characters from CrashCharacter’s Name Played by (Actor’s Name) Brief Description of Character

Graham Waters Don Cheadle African-American detective investigating

shooting of Detective Lewis

Ria Jennifer Esposito El Salvadorian/Puerto Rican detectivealso on the Lewis case; she and Graham

are romantically involved.

Rick Brendan Fraser Caucasian district attorney whose SUV is

carjacked near the beginning of the movie

Jean Sandra Bullock Rick’s uptight wife

Maria Yomi Perry Rick and Jean’s Latina housekeeper

Anthony Chris “Ludacris” Bridges Young African-American man who steals

cars & tries to educate his friend, Peter

various forms of racism

Peter Larenz Tate Graham’s younger brother & Anthony’s

friend. He likes hockey, is later shot

by Officer Hanson

Cameron Terrence Howard African-American TV director who is

harrassed by Officer Ryan in a traffic stop

Christine Thandie Newton Cameron’s wife who is sexually molested

by Officer Ryan during a traffic stop later

rescued by him after a car crash)

Officer Ryan Matt Dillon Caucasian officer on the LAPD

who has obvious racial prejudices

Officer Hanson Ryan Phillipe Rookie cop who no longer wants to ride

with Ryan. Hanson later helps Cameron

go w / a warning but then shoots Peter

after he picks him up as a hitchhiker.

Daniel Michael Pena Latino locksmith who gives his 5-year-

old daughter an “impenetrable cloak”

Lara Ashlyn Sanchez Daniel’s 5-year-old daughter

Farhad Shaun Toub Iranian storeowner who tries to shoot

Daniel but who ends up “shooting” Lara

Shereen Marina Sirtis Farhad’s wife

Dorri Bahar Soomekh Farhad & Shereen’s daughter. She works

in the medical field & does not want her

father to have a gun (She buys “blanks”). Choi Greg Joung Paik Korean man who is hit by Anthony

and Peter as they are driving the


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Kim Lee Alexis Ree Choi’s wife (She’s also the woman

involved in the car crash with Ria &

Graham at the beginning of the film.)

Shaniqua Johnson Lorretta Devine African-American woman who is thesupervisor of health insurance claims.

She has Officer Ryan thrown out of

her office.

Fred Tony Danza Caucasian man who works with

Cameron at the TV studio & asks

him to reshoot a scene because a

character didn’t sound “black enough.”

Lieutenant Dixon Keith David African-American LAPD lieutenant

who advises Officer Hanson to sayhe has “uncontrollable flatulence” in

order to get out of riding with Ryan

Detective Conklin Martine Norseman Caucasian police officer who is being

accused of shooting Detective Lewis

Detective Lewis African-American detective who was

shot in a car belonging to someone

else. Large sums of $ ($300,000?)

were discovered in spare tire of car.

Flanagan William Fichtner Works for D.A. Rick, tries to

persuade Graham to say that Conklin

shot Lewis (Such a statement would

politically benefit the D.A.)

Graham’s mother Beverly Todd Graham’s mother who blames him

for his brother’s death since she

thinks that Graham was “too busy”

to bother looking for his brother like

she had asked him to do.

Gunstore owner Jack McGee Owner of gunstore who hurls ethnicslurs at Farhad & then makes

sexually suggestive comments toward

Farhad’s daughter, Dorri.


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Graham Waters Rick Jean

Ria Maria Anthony

Peter Cameron Christine

Officer Ryan Officer Hanson Daniel

Lara Farhad


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Shereen Dorri Choi

Kim Lee Shaniqua Johnson Fred

Lieutenant Dixon Detective Conklin Flanagan

Graham’s Mother Gunstore Owner


9/12

A.

Read some definitions of stereotypes. Work with a partner and think about at

least three examples for each piece of information of the definitions.

1. A simplified and fixed image of all members of a culture or group (based onrace, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, national origins).

2. Generalizations about people that are based on limited, sometimes

inaccurate, information (from such sources as television, cartoons or comic

books, minimal contact with one or more members of the group, second-

hand information)

3. Initial predictions about strangers based on incomplete information about

their culture, race, religion, or ethnicity

4. A single statement or attitude about a group of people that does not

recognize the complex, multidimensional nature of human beings

5. Broad categories about people that fail to differentiate among individuals,

peoples, and societies.

B. Work in small groups. Discuss these items and decide whether they are

true or false.

1. ( ) Stereotypes can be positive or negative.

2. ( ) They are all unfair and misleading.

3. ( ) They reduce individuals to an inflexible image.

4. ( ) Human beings are unique and complex, so no one should be

stereotyped.

5. ( ) They dehumanize people because they place all members of a group in

one simple category.

6. ( ) Stereotypes can be true.

7. ( ) You can know a lot about a people if you know their stereotypes.

8. ( ) Stereotypes are not necessarily true, but there is a lot of reality in them.


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D. Match the words about stereotypes with their definitions:

1. alienation

2. attitude of superiority3. discrimination

4. ethnocentrism

5. intolerance

6. prejudice

7. racism8. scapegoat

9. bigotry

10. xenophobia

( ) a belief that one is better than others are

( ) fear or dislike of foreigners or strangers

( ) a feeling of being separate or not belonging( ) special treatment (good or bad) based or race, religion, physical

appearance, age or social class

( ) lack of kindness or understanding toward people who are different

( ) belief that one's own group (country, race or culture) is better than other

( ) having such strong opinions about a group of people that you are unwilling

to listen to anyone else's opinions

( ) A person or group who is given the blame for the mistakes or failures of

others

( ) Belief that an ethnic group is superior or inferior than other groups

( ) A negative, unfair opinion about a person or group of people based

on limited information or experience.


11/12

HDU-Crash 1

QUOTATION IDENTIFICATION TASK

1. ’ We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss thattouch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we canfeel something.’

2.

[to Anthony] ’ Look at me. You embarrass me. You embarrassyourself.’

3. ’ They think we're Arab. When did Persian become Arab? ’

4. ’ I want the locks changed again in the morning.’

5. ’ Listen. You can give me the gun, or give me back the money,and I'm really hoping for the money.’

6. ’ Why do these guys have to be black? No matter how we spinthis thing, I'm either gonna lose the black vote or I'm gonnalose the law and order vote!’

7.

’ I know all the sociological reasons why, per capita eight timesmore black men are imprisoned than white men... Schools are adisgrace, lack of opportunity, bias in the judicial system.’

8.

-’ We didn't get any coffee that you didn't want and I didn'torder, and this is evidence of racial discrimination? Did youhappen to notice our waitress was black? ’ -’ And black women don't think in stereotypes? You tell mesomething man. When was the last time you met one whodidn't think she knew everything about your lazy ass? Beforeyou even open your mouth.’

9. ‘Stop in the middle of street! Mexicans! No know how to drive!

She break too fast!’

10. ’Go to the locker. In my wallet there’s a check. Bring it here.’

11. ‘Get him the hell outta my office.’


12/12

HDU-Crash 2

12. ‘This little girl is my guardian angel.’

13. ’ You think you know who you are? You have no idea.’

14. ‘You're welcome. No problem. Goodnight Mrs. Jean.’

15.

‘How far can bullets go? ’

16. ’ I just couldn't stand to see that man take away your dignity.’

17. ‘Maybe they didn't tell you, but I've been reassigned.’

18. ’ She reaches into her backpack and she pulls out this invisiblecloak and she ties it around my neck. And she tells me that it'simpenetrable.’

19.

(to Graham) ’ Oh, I already know who killed him. You did.’

20. ’ Yo, Osama, plan a jihad on your own time.’

21. ‘I'll give you a lesson. How 'bout a geography lesson? Myfather's from Puerto Rico. My mother's from El Salvador .’

22. ‘I'm sure you understand how hard a black man has to work toget to, say, where I am, in a racist fu**ing organization like theL.A.P.D.’

23. ’ This is weird for a white guy to say this but have you noticedhis been talking a lot yes "black" lately? ’

crash movie worksheet students 3. előadás

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