The Soviet Invasion of Colorado
I have, a few times in my teaching career, shown Red Dawn in my social studies classes. The ostensible reason was to show attitudes and fears during the Cold War, although the real reason was to watch an exciting war movie. The kids have often (although, to my surprise, not always) gotten into it, but a couple of years ago one boy, when it was over, asked me when it happened.
It took me a moment to realise he was serious, and then I tried to explain that the Soviet Union and its Cuban and Mexican allies never invaded the United States. It was (as I'd said before showing it) just meant to portray American concerns during the Cold War. The poor lad looked crestfallen--even shocked and betrayed--and asked how they could have made a movie about it if it did not happen. Rather than try to explain the concept of fiction, I just told him I didn't know.
I introduced the movie again this December by explaining that it was just fiction, indended to show what Americans truly (and understandably) feared once upon a time, and even told them about the young man two years ago who asked when it happened, and that they must not ask that when it was over, because it never really happened.
Near the end of the movie, young Yankee in class told he that he had the movie at home and had watched it several times, but that he had never quite known when it had taken place. Once again, I had a student ask me when the events shown in Red Dawn took place. I again told him that it was all made up, but I have decided I will handle things differently in the future.
If anyone ever asks me again when Red Dawn happened, I will just say '1984.'
It took me a moment to realise he was serious, and then I tried to explain that the Soviet Union and its Cuban and Mexican allies never invaded the United States. It was (as I'd said before showing it) just meant to portray American concerns during the Cold War. The poor lad looked crestfallen--even shocked and betrayed--and asked how they could have made a movie about it if it did not happen. Rather than try to explain the concept of fiction, I just told him I didn't know.
I introduced the movie again this December by explaining that it was just fiction, indended to show what Americans truly (and understandably) feared once upon a time, and even told them about the young man two years ago who asked when it happened, and that they must not ask that when it was over, because it never really happened.
Near the end of the movie, young Yankee in class told he that he had the movie at home and had watched it several times, but that he had never quite known when it had taken place. Once again, I had a student ask me when the events shown in Red Dawn took place. I again told him that it was all made up, but I have decided I will handle things differently in the future.
If anyone ever asks me again when Red Dawn happened, I will just say '1984.'