Educators hold a crucial role in helping students understand significant moments in our cultural history. One such opportunity to do so is by exploring the timeless classic, Public Enemy. This 1931 gangster film not only entertains but provides valuable insights into a unique period in American history and has the potential to enhance your K-12 curriculum.
Set during the Prohibition Era, Public Enemy showcases societal challenges of the time, giving students insight into issues like organized crime, economic hardships, and moral dilemmas faced by everyday people. By incorporating this powerful film into your lesson plans, you can create a multi-layered and engaging learning experience for your students.
To introduce this classic movie to your classroom, follow these steps:
Provide Context:
Begin by putting the film into a historical context. Discuss the Prohibition Era (1920-1933) and help students understand how this period led to the rise of organized crime. Explore related concepts like bootlegging alcohol and speakeasies.
Analyze Film Techniques:
Review key aspects of filmmaking as they pertain to both entertainment and education. Analyze scenes from Public Enemy in terms of cinematography, editing, lighting, sound, and acting. Encourage students to consider how these elements contribute to the storytelling experience.
Discuss Societal Issues:
Use the film as a springboard for discussing various societal challenges faced during this time in history. Topics can include economic turmoil, class divisions, gender roles, ethics, and more. For older students, explore how these themes are relevant in today’s world as well.
Character Analysis:
Encourage critical thinking by having students discuss protagonist Tom Powers played by James Cagney as well as other central characters in Public Enemy. Students can analyze character motivations, actions, and consequences of their choices within the context of societal expectations at that time.
Connect to Literature & Art:
Draw parallels between Public Enemy and other works from the era, such as novels like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or famous painters such as Edward Hopper. Discover how these other art forms also captured the challenges and complexities of American society in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Reflect & Debate:
Give students a chance to share opinions and debate on various topics related to the film. This will help them develop their analytical, public speaking, and listening skills while promoting a deeper understanding of the themes in the movie.
Incorporating Public Enemy into your K-12 curriculum is an opportunity to bring history to life for your students while promoting critical thinking, empathy, and cultural understanding. These are skills that will serve your students well, no matter their age or grade level. So gather your class, dim the lights, and embark on an educational journey back in time!
