WARM-UP: JOURNAL #4 In your journal, write a thesis statement to capture your opinion of the prompt to the right. It might look like this: (Skill 1), (Skill 2), and (Skill 3) are the most important skills for success in life because _________________. Then, support your three choices with specific examples to illustrate their importance for success.

SOCIAL COMMENTARY Is a comment about society that exposes a flaw in  Human nature  Societal behaviors  Specific situations or trends Uses rhetorical means to provide commentary on issues in a society. This is often done with the idea of implementing or promoting change by informing the general populace about a given problem and appealing to people's sense of justice.

FORMS OF SOCIAL COMMENTARY A direct form of social commentary can be seen in sermons or political campaign speeches written to appeal to the listener’s sense of morals and justice about a given situation in society. Comedians sometimes use a direct method of social commentary, employing humor as a vehicle for criticisms of religion, government, racial issues and gender politics. When social commentary is made through visual art, film, literature and music, it is most often an indirect form and requires reflection and interpretation to understand.

DOCUMENTARY FILMS AS SOCIAL COMMENTARY Documentary films often attempt to implement or promote change by informing the general populace about a given problem and desire to appeal to people's sense of justice. Documentary Focus: God Grew Tired of Us (2006) God Grew Tired of Us is as much about America as it is about Africa. The moving documentary begins in war-torn Sudan with the mid-1980s exodus of 27,000 Christian boys, most between five and ten. After their arrival in Kenya, the UN steps in with aid. Directors Christopher Quinn and Tommy Walker pick up the story a decade later, narrowing their focus to Panther, John, and Daniel, three of 3,800 given the opportunity to resettle in the US. Quinn and Walker are with them when they land in the States, where everything is new and exciting--electricity, running water, pre-packaged foodstuffs--all the things Americans take for granted. Through the assistance of various relief organizations, their expenses are covered for the next few months. After that, the trio is expected to provide for themselves (they're older than the subjects in 2003's The Lost Boys of Sudan). Divided between Pittsburgh, PA and Syracuse, NY, the young men are thrilled with their suburban lives. Over the next year, however, joy turns to sorrow. They miss their families and have trouble making connections beyond their social group. The directors document another two years, by which point things are finally starting to look up. Produced by Brad Pitt, God Grew Tired of Us won the Documentary Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance. Nicole Kidman provides a little narration, but for the most part, the Lost Boys speak for themselves, which is exactly as it should be. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

WHILE WE WATCH… This is being treated as a TEXT for our class. You will have a QUIZ over this film, so it is imperative that you take this seriously and pay close attention. HANDOUT: Keep notes on the following elements of both the Dinka and American cultures, as they are represented in the film:  Values  Traditions  Character Traits  Fears  Dreams/Goals Your paper should be FULL of information in both categories. Remember, we are looking for social commentary, so pay attention to how the film portrays both the Dinka and the American cultures.