An Introduction to Forrest Gump

1. An Introduction to Forrest Gump • Released Time: 1994/06/23 • Genre:Comedy / Drama / Romance • Runtime: 141 mins • Awards: Won 6 Oscars for Best Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium), Best Film Editing, Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Effects (Visual Effects) Another 32 wins & 37 nominations • Plot Summary

2. Plot summary A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events - in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. Yet, despite all the things he has attained, his one true love escape him. “Forrest Gump” is the story of a man who rose above his challenges, and who proved that determination, courage, and love are more important than ability.

3. Group discussion: historical events and figures in the movie. (about 20 minutes) Group-report (about 15 minutes) Discussion

4. Historical events: • Ku Klux Klan • Civil Rights Movement/Negro Revolution • Vietnam War • Ping pong Diplomacy • The Watergate Scandal

5. Ku Klux Klan • a secret society of white Southerners • founded during Reconstruction after the Civil War resist the emancipation (setting free) of slaves dedicated to the supremacy(至上) of white people opposed to equal rights for black people often engaged in violence against blacks its objective wear white hoods(头巾) and robes burn a wooden cross outside the house of someone whom they wish to threaten costume& tactic

6. KKK

7. Civil Rights Movement---a challenge to segregation • Black Freedom Movement / Negro Revolution / Second Reconstruction • political, legal, and social struggle to gain full citizenship rights to achieve racial equality purpose protest marches boycotts refusal to abide by segregation laws activities Beginning---- the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 Ending---- the Voting Rights Act of 1965

8. Vietnam War---America's Longest War War North Vietnamese & National Liberation Front (NLF) United States forces & South Vietnamese army VS non-Communist Vietnamese Vietnamese Communists Fear of spread of Communism Vietnam was reunified in 1975 defeated by North Vietnamese

9. Anti-Vietnam War movement(1965–73) • 3.2 million Vietnamese • 58,000 Americans • more than 2 million American veterans • over $150 billion dollars • demonstrations and marches by college students, elected politicians, clergy,ect.

10. Vietnam War Soldiers carry a wounded comrade through a swampy area amid the dense jungles of South Vietnam.

11. Anti-war protest The 'March on the Pentagon' in October 1967 drew over 50,000 protestors and marked the beginning of large-scale anti-war protests. songs

12. Ping pang diplomacy Ordinary people affect Chinese-U.S. relations Zhou said: "By visiting our country you have opened the gate for the exchanges between the people of the two nations. We believe that a friendly exchange will win approval and support from both the Chinese and American peoples."

13. Watergate Scandal The Watergate Scandal: the name given to illegal activities designed to help President Nixon win re-election in nineteen seventy -two. suffix -gate : scandals associated with the government. zippergate(拉练门) Irangate(伊朗门) informationgate（情报门）

14. Watergate Scandal • Break in ---In June of 1972, 5 young men break into the Watergate Hotel trying to bug telephones • Deep Throat: the informant who gave Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein information that helped to expose the Nixon administration's role in the Watergate Scandal.

15. Forrest meets his fair share of famous people----- • Elvis Aron Presley (Jan 8, 1935 – Aug 16, 1977) • John Lennon • George Wallace • President Kennedy • President Johnson: 36th President of the U.S (1963–1969) • President Nixon 37th President of the U.S Go to songs

16. "Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country." back

17. Elvis Presley: Rock 'n' roll began with him in mid-50s. He defined its genre and gave its power. "it was Elvis who made rock 'n' roll the international language of pop." "an American music giant of the 20th century who single-handedly changed the course of music and culture in the mid-1950s." "Before Elvis, there was nothing.“ -----------John Lennon

18. Elvis Presley

19. George Wallace: In March, 1965, a violent confrontation between Alabama state troopers and peaceful civil rights marchers horrified the nation. The troops that beat and tear-gassed the demonstrators were under orders from Governor George Wallace to halt the march.

20. John Winston Lennon (later John Ono Lennon): (Oct 9, 1940– Dec 8, 1980) He was best known as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist for The Beatles. His creative career also included the roles of solo musician, political activist, artist, actor and author. He is recognized as one of the musical icons of the 20th century. In 2002, the BBC conducted a vote to discover the 100 Greatest Britons of all time, and the British public voted Lennon into 8th place.

21. John Lennon

22. Songs---Blowing in the Wind “Blowing in the wind” by Bob Dylan “Yesterday” by John Lennon

23. Discussion • Discussions on details and open questions (50 ms) • Discussion: the theme of the movie? (about 20 minutes)

24. Discuss with your partner How is Jenney’s life experience different from that of Forrest? How do various social problems affect Jenny’s life not Forrest’s?

25. Suggestion from the teacher: • J and F’s paths constantly cross through the years, yet their journeys are separate and distinct. F is not a smart man, but he has sth much more important: fundamental human decency. He always does the right things because he’s a decent person who genuinely cares about other people before himself. Jenny takes a road populated by frustration, drugs, and discontent. Through the counterculture in the 1960s and eventually the cocaine-fueled disco scene of the 1970s, J is the lost soul who never finds her directions in a changing society.

26. Discuss in groups: • Do you think every one has his own destiny or we’re all just floating around accidentally on breeze? • The movie begins with a feather flying in the air and ends with it too, what does this suggest?

27. 3. Destiny: F explores but never really resolves. Bubba –”why’d this have to happen?” Dan-”I had a destiny. I was supposed to die in the field with honor.” F—”what’s my destiny, momma?” F’s advice is not to give up on life. Why surrender when you don’t know what lies ahead?

28. The Theme of the Movie We should have optimistic attitude and an open eye so that very thing can be simplified rather than complex; then we can find many amazements that we could not see before.

29. Recommended Website • http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/

30. Homework: Key words finding ---learning historical events • Find out one key word that you think might be closely related to the topic you will discuss next time. • Explain the word to your group members and exchange your ideas on the topic in your group. • Group reporter dictates all the key words of your group and explain them to the whole class.

31. Ku Klux Klan • Reconstruction • Civil War • White Supremacy • Costume

32. Watergate Scandal • President Nixon • Re-election • Watergate building (Washington D.C.) • Resign • Deep throat

33. Tips for your preparation and speaking --- 6 “nots” • Not too long • Not too difficult • Not too much • Not too fast • Not too unclear • Not too low voice