Grease, released in 1978, is an iconic musical film that has withstood the test of time, delivering sing-along hits and a story filled with teenage love, friendship, and drama. When teaching students about the Grease movie, it is important to dive into not only the movie’s cultural significance but also its themes, character development, and real-world implications. In this article, we will explore various approaches and insights for incorporating the film, Grease into your curriculum.
Setting the Stage: Historical Context
Before introducing students to the film itself, it is crucial to provide context for the era in which Grease takes place—the 1950s. This can be done by discussing American society, including advancements in technology like television and automobiles and how these shaped day-to-day life. Additionally, discussing societal norms such as gender roles and expectations can help students better understand the characters’ actions and motivations.
Music Makes the Story: The Soundtrack
One of Grease’s most memorable aspects is its music. Introduce students to each song by analyzing lyrics for themes of love, friendship, peer pressure, expectations, identity crisis, and growing up. Discussions on how songs reflect emotions or motives of characters can encourage critical thinking skills.
Character Analysis: Diving Deeper
Teaching students about Grease can become multifaceted by analyzing the evolution of major characters like Danny and Sandy. For a more collaborative approach, you can appoint different groups to focus on individual characters. Prepare discussion points on transformations that occur throughout the film to further stimulate engagement.
Themes Galore: Identifying Underlying Lessons
Although set in a seemingly fun-filled world of Rydell High School classmates singing their way through adolescence, Grease tackles deeper themes such as peer pressure and self-discovery. Ask students to identify these themes by citing specific scenes in the movie, noting how characters react and grow in response to them.
Gender Roles: A Cross-Generational Look
The portrayal of gender roles in Grease can be used to discuss and compare historical perspectives on gender expectations. An interesting exercise is to have students discuss and present their views on how characters might respond if the film were set in modern times or contrast with other films presenting similar themes.
