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Ethics and Film: Messages, Themes, and Techniques Module 4: The Merchant of Venice by Magaret Haun, PhD Completion Time Teaching guidelines for four feature films and one documentary comprise this module. Teachers who move through the entire module would need to set aside 15-16 hours just for viewing. (And this assumes that DVDs do not freeze, DVD players work flawlessly, and LCD projectors sync efficiently with laptops or DVD players.) The ideal situation is one where students receive plenty of pre-viewing preparation. Estimate for prep time is at least one hour per film. In my classroom, discussion takes place before, during (using the "Pause" function of the remote) and after a film. Total discussion time is hard to predict, but I cannot imagine less than 1.5 hours per film. Projects are optional but several would require multiple days. Analytical essays of 450-500 words can be completed in 55-60 minutes whether they are written in class or as a home learning assignment. Journaling would require less time-perhaps 20 minutes per film. The full unit would require between 40-50 hours. My recommendation would be to integrate the films into course content rather than importing the module into a course as a discrete film studies unit. Note: The teacher, of course, will want to preview any film before bringing it into the classroom. Street scenes in The Merchant of Venice show women wearing dresses that expose a good portion of their breasts. This is not a "wardrobe malfunction," but rather part of the decadence of Venice in the 16th century. Before controversial content is introduced, students should be given the option to complete an alternate assignment. To preserve instructional continuity, the teacher should carefully connect the film to other course content and assess students' understanding of this connection.

Ethics and Film: Messages, Themes, and Techniques Module 4: The Merchant of Venice

by Magaret Haun, PhD

Completion Time

Teaching guidelines for four feature films and one documentary comprise this module. Teachers who move through the entire module would need to set aside 15-16 hours just for viewing. (And this assumes that DVDs do not freeze, DVD players work flawlessly, and LCD projectors sync efficiently with laptops or DVD players.) The ideal situation is one where students receive plenty of pre-viewing preparation. Estimate for prep time is at least one hour per film. In my classroom, discussion takes place before, during (using the "Pause" function of the remote) and after a film. Total discussion time is hard to predict, but I cannot imagine less than 1.5 hours per film. Projects are optional but several would require multiple days. Analytical essays of 450-500 words can be completed in 55-60 minutes whether they are written in class or as a home learning assignment. Journaling would require less time-perhaps 20 minutes per film. The full unit would require between 40-50 hours. My recommendation would be to integrate the films into course content rather than importing the module into a course as a discrete film studies unit.

Note: The teacher, of course, will want to preview any film before bringing it into the classroom. Street scenes in The Merchant of Venice show women wearing dresses that expose a good portion of their breasts. This is not a "wardrobe malfunction," but rather part of the decadence of Venice in the 16th century. Before controversial content is introduced, students should be given the option to complete an alternate assignment. To preserve instructional continuity, the teacher should carefully connect the film to other course content and assess students' understanding of this connection.