Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Bowling For Columbine

Relate the movie Bowling For Columbine to Socialization. Here are some ideas to think about:
Government
What are some of the ways that Moore suggests the U.S. government is an agent of socialization in shaping Americans’ use of guns? Do you agree that the government shapes America’s violent tendencies? Why or why not?
Fear
Moore mentions fear in a few different scenes. What agents of socialization promote fear in America? How do they do it? Do you think there is something to fear?
Poverty
How does poverty play a role in Moore’s movie? What does poverty have to do with Moore’s movie? How does it contribute to America’s culture of violence?
Moore’s Thesis
What do you think Moore's thesis would be if this movie were an essay? Why does America have so many gun deaths? What agents of socialization contribute to this problem?