Dear AFEE Members,
Thank you for your responses to my query about suggestions for films that have depictions of economic content. Ultimately, I did decide to re-orient my introductory class around the format of utilizing fictional films. For those who are interested, I am attaching my syllabus to this message.
Also, given my own list, personal queries, and the response of AFEE members, the following represents a list of film suggestions.
Adventures of Baron Munchhausen
American Psycho
Avatar
The Aviator
Boyz n the Hood
Burn!
Erin Brockovich (fictionality is debatable)
Grapes of Wrath
How Green was my Valley
It Happened One Night
It's a Wonderful Life
Matewan
Medicine Man
Memories of Underdevelopment
Metropolis
Modern Times
Mosquito Coast (fictionality is debatable)
Network
Office Space
Other People's Money
Pretty Woman
Soylent Green
Sullivan's Travels
There will be Blood
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (fictionality is debatable)
Wall Street
Wall Street 2
Wolf of Wall Street
There are likely many others, but this was the list I worked from as I compiled my syllabus.
One final note, some may have wondered why I chose fictional films? My answer is that there are endless documentaries that I could have shown (likely should show to students), but the intent of a documentary (as accurate as it may be) is to steer students in a very overt way. I was seeking a medium that would allow artistic license to dampen the notion of steering in favor of students drawing their own conclusions.
Best,
Justin