The Patriot: History vs. Hollywood
Use the knowledge that you have gained from class along with examples from the movie to answer the following questions. 1-4 Short Answer to help you with the Essay...(#5)
1. Martin lives in South Carolina yet has free blacks... this is plausible but highly unlikely. Why do you think “hollywood” decided to portray Martin’s farm this way?
2. How were Martin’s slaves treated during the movie? If you were a movie maker, would you portray the slaves this way?
3 How is this movie historically accurate from what you have learned in class? How is this movie historically inaccurate from what you have learned in class?
4. History vs. Hollywood: The Patriot explains that the lead character of The Patriot is a composite of different people. What is a composite? Why did the producers choose to model their leading character after more than one person?
5. Essay: Discuss the problems with the film's portrayal of the lives of African Americans during the Revolutionary era. Use the documents provided to you and the answers above - to compare/contrast. How would you have improved the film, or made it more historically accurate without taking away too much from the “hollywood” agenda? Why do you think the film opted to portray the characters in this way?
1. Martin lives in South Carolina yet has free blacks... this is plausible but highly unlikely. Why do you think “hollywood” decided to portray Martin’s farm this way?
2. How were Martin’s slaves treated during the movie? If you were a movie maker, would you portray the slaves this way?
3 How is this movie historically accurate from what you have learned in class? How is this movie historically inaccurate from what you have learned in class?
4. History vs. Hollywood: The Patriot explains that the lead character of The Patriot is a composite of different people. What is a composite? Why did the producers choose to model their leading character after more than one person?
5. Essay: Discuss the problems with the film's portrayal of the lives of African Americans during the Revolutionary era. Use the documents provided to you and the answers above - to compare/contrast. How would you have improved the film, or made it more historically accurate without taking away too much from the “hollywood” agenda? Why do you think the film opted to portray the characters in this way?
Alt assignment (if you missed the movie)
Read these articles, and address the issues of History vs. Hollywood... In what ways did the Patriot choose their Hollywood agenda over historical accuracy? How would have made the film more historically accurate? (Use evidence from the articles to support your answer)
Did the Brits burn churches? - In the new Mel Gibson film The Patriot, British soldiers are shown committing various atrocities against colonials during the American Revolution, such as locking civilians in a church and setting it on fire. Did the British actually violate the rules of war as the film alleges?
Spike Lee slams The Patriot "A Disgrace" - Film director Spike Lee has told the BBC he thinks Hollywood film The Patriot - attacked for its portrayal of the British - is "a disgrace"
Mel's Vendetta Against England - This article has a slight bias against Gibson.
Challenge: Find articles that defend The Patriot and include that knowledge in your essay.
Did the Brits burn churches? - In the new Mel Gibson film The Patriot, British soldiers are shown committing various atrocities against colonials during the American Revolution, such as locking civilians in a church and setting it on fire. Did the British actually violate the rules of war as the film alleges?
Spike Lee slams The Patriot "A Disgrace" - Film director Spike Lee has told the BBC he thinks Hollywood film The Patriot - attacked for its portrayal of the British - is "a disgrace"
Mel's Vendetta Against England - This article has a slight bias against Gibson.
Challenge: Find articles that defend The Patriot and include that knowledge in your essay.