A reflection essay on the movie, Motorcycle Diaries

1. Harold Sowards
FYS 2 pm
21 October 2013
Motorcycle Diaries
Part 1: Artistic Thinking
Songs:
 Reach by Gloria Estfan
This song is kind of how I feel that Alberto reaches for his goals of being a
revolutionary.
 I’ve Been Everywhere by Johnny Cash
This kind of just explains the way I think Alberto and Ernesto will respond after their
trip, especially when the song talks about deserts.
 Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom Petty
This song is again about how the main characters have to follow their dreams and strive
to get them.
 This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie
This song shows how after a while Alberto begins to see the land they are in as part of
his hometown and how he wants to help make it better and more peaceful.
 Turn the Page by Bob Seger
It starts off on a journey to get to know the country better, but it ends up helping both
characters get to know their dreams and ambitions better.
Images:
Part 2: Problem Solving

2. 1a. The birthday toast by Alberto.
This could have gone differently if Alberto wasn’t just now realizing his world
views. He could have kept them bottled up and done in front of only his friends, but
he decided to do it in front of people.
Methods: Civic and Ethnic Thinking, Communication Fluency, Intercultural
Thinking
1b. The fact that Alberto decides to not wear gloves in order to shake the hands of
the leprosy inmates.
If he would have just wore the gloves, he could have still been able to shake their
hands and it wouldn’t have caused so much tension amongst the doctors.
Methods: Ethnic and Civic Thinking, Intercultural Thinking, Metacognitive
Thinking, Integrative Thinking
2a. When the Doctors sleep in cabins and the leprosy inmates and Alberto sleep in
the cells across the river.
I think that this thinking is wrong, because the doctors should be in the same area as
the leprosy inmates, so they can keep a good watch on them in case they get sicker or
die.
2b. Alberto vs Wealth
I’m only putting this in here, because he is also broke during the movie and has to do
odd things to get what he needs. Also, his toast was a direct attack against the
wealthy leaders.
I think that this mentality is valid, because it can be good if it helps benefit other
people as well and helps show some humanity still exists. However, it could be bad,
if taken too far and wars start to overthrow the wealthy.
3. Empathy was used primarily by Alberto. He had a general compassion for the
leprosy inmates. He volunteered to help them out and felt better about himself and he
gave them a sense of meaning. He showed them compassion when he swam across
the river to sleep with them, instead of being with the doctors.
Design is used in this movie, when Alberto and Ernesto had to come up with unique
lies in order to get their wants and needs met.
Story is obviously used in this movie to lay out a plot and tell the actions of the
characters.