Assignment 2 Each student will select 5 films/documentaries or other visual media that inform their understanding and integration of key social work concepts. An analysis of the concepts will be critique with the selected “film”. As with assignment 1, each response must include specific content from the course text and include appropriate APA citations. A suggested list of films will be available and an outline for each critique will be provided. Total = 30 pts. Potential Movies for SW301 Assignment 2 This is not an exhaustive list, just some suggestions to get you started. Please choose movies that have social justice and social work themes. Themes could include poverty, racism, sexism, classism/elitism, ableism, heterosexism/ homophobia, transphobia, cis-genderism, ethnocentrism, religious oppression, ageism, mental illness, intersectionality and others. Note: These films are meant to be educational and to stretch you. However, please consider your personal lived experience and your triggers when deciding which media to engage with. Movies Good Will Hunting Silver Linings Playbook (Netflix) Freedom Writers The Color Purple In a World (Available on Netflix beginning 10/7/14) Invisible Children Hotel Rwanda (Netflix) Philadelphia (Netflix) Smoke Signals (Netflix) The Shawshank Redemption Crash 12 Years a Slave The Help The Kids are All Right (Netflix) Documentaries Inequality for All (Netflix) A Place at the Table (Netflix) Film 1 Film title: A Place at the Table Samantha Gardener Rationale for selection: I chose this documentary because I am very interested on the topic of hunger in America. I know that there is a stigma placed on people who do not have enough to eat and have to rely on government assistance- they are lazy, undeserving, and could afford food “if they would just try hard enough.” I know that this is not the case and that the “American dream” is actually very unrealistic. I also know that a lot of people think that it is not the government’s job to feed people and that local charities can handle that and fix hunger, but I have seen that that is not the case. I wanted to see statistics and real people sharing their experiences. I wanted to be more informed on this topic. Main Points: In general, Americans view hunger as a poor person’s problem and as something that they experience because they didn't work hard enough. People who face hunger are perceived as lazy and not entitled, which is certainly not the case. This exemplifies elitism, which Miley and Dubois define as “prejudice against those in lower economic classes” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p. 137). This documentary points to the fact that hunger leads to things such as obesity, mental and physical health problems, and poor performance in school. This ties in to the concept of at-risk social functioning. “Some populations or social systems are at risk of difficulties in social functioning. This means that they are vulnerable to speci ...

1. Assignment 2
Each student will select 5 films/documentaries or other visual
media that inform their understanding and integration of key
social work concepts. An analysis of the concepts will be
critique with the selected “film”. As with assignment 1, each
response must include specific content from the course text and
include appropriate APA citations. A suggested list of films
will be available and an outline for each critique will be
provided. Total = 30 pts.
Potential Movies for SW301 Assignment 2
This is not an exhaustive list, just some suggestions to get you
started. Please choose movies that have social justice and social
work themes. Themes could include poverty, racism, sexism,
classism/elitism, ableism, heterosexism/ homophobia,
transphobia, cis-genderism, ethnocentrism, religious oppression,
ageism, mental illness, intersectionality and others.
Note: These films are meant to be educational and to stretch
you. However, please consider your personal lived experience
and your triggers when deciding which media to engage with.
Movies
Good Will Hunting
Silver Linings Playbook (Netflix)
Freedom Writers
The Color Purple
In a World (Available on Netflix beginning 10/7/14)
Invisible Children
Hotel Rwanda (Netflix)
Philadelphia (Netflix)
Smoke Signals (Netflix)
The Shawshank Redemption

2. Crash
12 Years a Slave
The Help
The Kids are All Right (Netflix)
Documentaries
Inequality for All (Netflix)
A Place at the Table (Netflix)
Film 1
Film title: A Place at the Table
Samantha Gardener
Rationale for selection: I chose this documentary because I am
very interested on the topic of hunger in America. I know that
there is a stigma placed on people who do not have enough to
eat and have to rely on government assistance- they are lazy,
undeserving, and could afford food “if they would just try hard
enough.” I know that this is not the case and that the
“American dream” is actually very unrealistic. I also know that
a lot of people think that it is not the government’s job to feed
people and that local charities can handle that and fix hunger,
but I have seen that that is not the case. I wanted to see
statistics and real people sharing their experiences. I wanted to
be more informed on this topic.
Main Points: In general, Americans view hunger as a poor
person’s problem and as something that they experience because
they didn't work hard enough. People who face hunger are
perceived as lazy and not entitled, which is certainly not the
case. This exemplifies elitism, which Miley and Dubois define
as “prejudice against those in lower economic classes” (Miley &
Dubois, 2013, p. 137). This documentary points to the fact that
hunger leads to things such as obesity, mental and physical
health problems, and poor performance in school. This ties in
to the concept of at-risk social functioning. “Some populations
or social systems are at risk of difficulties in social functioning.
This means that they are vulnerable to specific problems,

3. although such problems have yet to surface.” (Miley & Dubois,
2013, p. 65). If a child is born into a family that is facing
hunger, they are vulnerable to certain things that are likely to
result from the hunger that they experience. Hunger and the
failed social system that we live in today that doesn't address
hunger like we need it to affects people in multiple other areas
of their lives. Hunger puts pressure on parents to find better
jobs and to somehow provide for their family, and to do better
even when they are doing their best. It places stress on kids
because they are not able to function properly in school. This
shows the concept of environmental press at work.
“Environmental forces exert pressure on individuals that affects
them either negatively or positively…Environmental
stressors…press on individuals and create barriers, problems, or
difficulties in functioning.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p. 66). A
big point this documentary was trying to make was that hunger
affects every area of individual’s lives. “Social problems affect
social functioning in a number of aspects of an individual’s
lives, including physical and mental health, employment and
education, financial security, housing, recreation, and family
and community integrity.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p. 67). For
example, Barbie couldn't go back to college because she could
barely afford to put food on the table. The hunger that her and
her family experienced made higher education impossible. One
of the larger points that this movie makes is that hunger is a
human right. Miley and Dubois define human rights as “…the
fundamental entitlements that are necessary for personal
development and human potential.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013,
p.133). They also state that “Because these basic rights are
inherent, human rights cannot be granted or can they be taken
away-they can only be violated.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013,
p.132). This documentary shows that the system in which we
live in is causing people’s human rights to be violated. Many
people ignore the fact that hunger affects so many Americans
today. If people don't acknowledge it as a problem, then they
don't have to deal with it. “Belief in a just world predicts lower

4. reported levels of social activism, perpetuating social
injustice.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p.149). The whole point of
this documentary was to highlight the fact that hunger is an
issue, and that it needs to be seriously addressed. The world is
not just, and people need to acknowledge that.
Quote: “‘The stereotype of food banks has always been for the
unemployed and for the disabled, people that can’t go out and
get a job. That’s not always the case. Sometimes in life you
just get to a point where you just need a little extra help.’” -
Adam Appelhanz
Why quote was chosen: I chose this quote for several reasons.
As a fully employed person with what is seen as an important
job, he still is not able to make enough money to put enough
food on the table. He breaks all of the stereotypes- he isn't
unemployed or disabled or lazy, he is a normal man who is a
victim of the system that which America operates in. I think
Adam Applehanz is a true example of our failed system. He is
doing all of he can, and he is still faced with hunger.
Personal response to film: I really enjoyed this movie and the
insight it gave me. I learned a lot about hunger and the effects
that it has on people. My awareness was widely broadened to
this issue that so many people are experiencing despite the fact
that as a country, we have proven that we can handle if
effectively. It clearly tied into many concepts of social work,
especially into concepts that we learned about it chapter 6 of the
book. Hunger is a problem of social injustice, and hunger is a
basic human right that many people don't have and aren't given
the access to. Because of this, I feel that social workers are
ethically obligated to fight hunger at each level of intervention.
I agree that the government isn't providing enough assistance to
those who need it and that it isn't giving enough people time to
build financial stability once they do have a job, and this is
something that a macrolevel social worker could address.
Review & Critique Outline

5. SW 301
*Film Title
*Rationale for Selection:
*6-8 Main points (supported with relevant to social work
readings and appropriate citation):
*One Important Quote from Media Selection
*Why the Quote was chosen
*Personal Response to film (Areas of agreements,
disagreements, insights)
Summary of selection informed your understanding of social
work!
Please limit critiques to 2-3 pages each!
Mh/2014