My notes on Geoff Botkin’s talk at the film festival, How to Anyalyze a Hollywood Film. This session was by no means intended to be comprehensive, but rather a crash course in critical thinking as it applies to movies.  Likewise, my notes are not at all comprehensive, but just the highlights that I managed to record, poorly paraphrased by me.

Mr. Botkin played very short clips from the film, pausing frequently to discuss.  In all, we probably viewed less than 5 minutes of the film, but this generated enough discussion to fill the entire time alloted for the session and then some.  He first commented on individual phrases from the opening scenes, encouraging us to examine why each word, phrase and line applies in the dialogue.  Remember that in most situations every line was carefully scripted and planned.

• You are all going out there as individuals. Children are taught at graduation that they are going out as little kingdoms unto themselves.
• Woodrow Wilson School of International Policy: A fictitious school named after the 2nd most treasonous president in terms of constitutional fidelity, the one who instituted the income tax system and established the Federal Reserve Bank.  Who do they honor, and why do they choose him?  Look around at other public schools – who are they named after, and why?

Norman Rockwell’s slice of culture & worldview provided many teachable moments to the Botkin family: dating, courtship, relationships, kissing, marriage. We can find the same opportunities around us, e.g. in the names of institutions and in small and casual lines of movies.

• Graduation ceremony: how did it originate?  When these scenes are portayed as a grand celebration in the life of every good citizen, do our homeschooled children begin to believe that they have missed out on something?
• Tiger mascot: our children need to know about the  idolatry of collegiate sports that captures the hearts of so many.  Cheerleaders, etc.

Movies like this will define true love, dating, international affairs, and more for your children.  They should not be learning such things without our guidance and direct input.

• Dear Diary, Wellll, it’s me. Brand new college graduate-slash-princess… What is the traditional attitude expressed in a journal?  What should it be?  What do we already know about the heroine from this entry?  We see how she defines herself.  Her diary is a scrapbook of experiences that revolve around herself.  The traditional purpose or tone of journals were for interpreting life in light of scripture, often being later used as roadmaps for descendents.  This one is flippant and self-centered.
• …He went off to tour the country with his band. This is what all cool guys do, right?
• I’m a little nervous [about becoming queen].  I didn’t have a class called “How to Run a Country 101″ That would be the first 5 books of the Bible.
• And I’ll sit on a throne.  Is that scary or what? Yes, the thought of a girl like this on a throne is scary.  Ruling takes a lot of wisdom and responsibility.  Our children need to have some understanding of how a monarchy works.   We see the nature of palace life, and the characters of palace life.  Incidentally, you never touch the royal personage, though we see it happen in the film when her tiara is knocked off her head and replaced.  Some of what is portrayed is realistic, while some is not.  Use this as an opportunity to learn the difference.
• We see the princess.  Do our daughters want to be like her?  What do we think of her dress?  We hear gossip.  Deportment among friends: do we squeal when we see each other at a formal occasion?  How do we interact with young men?
• “Shut up!” (said by queen, signifying amazement) Authority figures are shown to be cool, progressive and lovable when they engage in pop culture and jargon.
• This is the 21st century! We’re moving into the 21st century.  The message is, “Let us join Hollywood in making war against blood (family), soil (traditions), father, mother and religion.”
• Arranged marriage:  the film will define what we think of this.  We learn that marriage needs chemistry and sparks, and love as popularly defined.  We don’t subscribe to arranged marriage but we need to define these issues, not Hollywood.
• Machiavelli: he is mentioned, and merits discussion.
• His snake of an uncle: point out the impropriety of speaking this way about others, and the fact that it also would not happen in this setting.
• Valley girl mannerisms, speech, facial expressions, general deportment.  Don’t let our daughters imitate this behavior!
• Sorry. [single word, said in a sulk] A typical 21st century apology, showing no repentance or contrition.  Apparently accepted by the queen, who immediately responds by supporting the actions for which the princess apologized.
• I have my own mall! Materialism presented as desirable.  What girl wouldn’t want her own mall?
• I just love to look at him. While reviewing photos of eligible prospects for an arranged marriage, a photo of an ineligible young man is included.  All the women approve.  Lust is encouraged.
• His boyfriend thinks he’s handsome also. Approved by characters, who obviously subscribe to modern definitions of sexuality.
• He looks…decent… How should we make marriage decisions?  Based on appearance?
• You can be a princess today just like me. This is set as an example of leadership and ruling.
• She sneaks out the window to meet the cute boy even though she is engaged and just hours away from marriage.  Apparently this is ok because they don’t engage in sex.

What are the virtues being talked about when Christian pastors say that this movie is “loaded with virtue”?

Just a few of the messages to be found in this film: Eschew duty.  Follow your heart.  Changing your mind at the altar is not a big deal.  Good boys are boring.  Bad boys are the interesting ones, because they have a magical, debonair, resourceful presence.  Boring boy is masculine, honorable, etc. Interesting boy is an effeminate, woman-chasing cad.  Occasional good advice is later rejected in favor of a “better” course of action.

One of our most important responsibilities is to see that our children marry well; this film is a primer on marrying poorly.

In summary, don’t be fooled by a lack of gratuitous sex, overt violence, or swearing.  There can be far more harmful and insidious messages within the movies we watch, especially when we are trusting enough to allow our children to consume them freely or unattended.  Everyone has a worldview, and they do not develop in a vacuum.  Every film contains and communicates messages and a worldview, and those who don’t watch with a critical mind and eye will absorb those messages and find themselves molded by that worldview.   It is our duty to shape and form the worldviews of our children rather than allowing Hollywood to do it for us.

I’m listening right now to one of my favorite seesions at the Film Festival every year: Geoff Botkin’s How to Analyze a Hollywood Film.” The vicitm – er, subject this year is Princess Diaries 2.  I thought that was an odd choice, but he made an eye-opening statement when I commented on that: he says that this film has been very popular among homeschoolers.  Apparently the general consensus is that it is sweet and innocuous, or even very good.

Really?  What do you think?  Have you seen one of both of the Princess Diariesmovies?  What did you think?  Looking back, what do you think now?