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    Secret Life of Walter Mitty

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    This study guide is intended for students in grades 7-9 and contains activities related to the film "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". The guide aims to help students think critically about their use of technology and its impacts. Some key activities included are analyzing how technology helps or hinders connections, creating media about responsible technology use, and identifying constructions of reality in media.

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    Secret Life of Walter Mitty

    Uploaded by

    api-392042794
    586 views8 pages
    This study guide is intended for students in grades 7-9 and contains activities related to the film "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". The guide aims to help students think critically about their use of technology and its impacts. Some key activities included are analyzing how technology helps or hinders connections, creating media about responsible technology use, and identifying constructions of reality in media.

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    secret life of walter mitty

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    This study guide is intended for students in grades 7-9 and contains activities related to the film "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". The guide aims to help students think critically about their use of technology and its impacts. Some key activities included are analyzing how technology helps or hinders connections, creating media about responsible technology use, and identifying constructions of reality in media.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    586 views8 pages

    Secret Life of Walter Mitty

    Uploaded by

    api-392042794
    This study guide is intended for students in grades 7-9 and contains activities related to the film "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". The guide aims to help students think critically about their use of technology and its impacts. Some key activities included are analyzing how technology helps or hinders connections, creating media about responsible technology use, and identifying constructions of reality in media.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 8

    The Secret Life of

    Walter Mitty
    A Media Study Guide
    By Karina Zanrosso and
    Paige McClelland

    This study guide is intended for students who are in grades 7-9 and
    contains information and activities suitable for cross-curricular studies.
    Teachers are encouraged to use this guide “make your own adventure” style
    and modify existing activities when appropriate.

    The guide targets the Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies section of
    the B.C. curriculum. By completing the guided activities and discussions,
    students will

    • identify the personal, social, and environmental impacts, including


    unintended negative consequences, of the choices they make about
    technology use
    • select, and as needed learn about, appropriate tools and technologies to
    extend their capability to complete a task
    • showcase digital literacy skills, including digital self-image, citizenship,
    and ethical considerations of technology use
    Movie Synopsis
    Based on a short story, this movie explores
    the protagonist Walter Mitty’s dissatisfaction
    with his job at a magazine called LIFE, which
    is a reflection of a far greater discontent in
    his personal life.

    To escape the seemingly mundane and


    disconnect from the world around him,
    Walter daydreams--a lot--interfering with
    his relationships and responsibilities.

    Through the support of others and assistance


    of technology, he begins a journey of self-
    discovery and connection to what is most
    important in his life.

    Key Concepts
    Personal connection to technology: When Walter daydreams, he visualizes
    using technology in order to appear invincible. This film explores how society often
    uses technology to dissociate and create extreme constructions of reality (similar to
    how media constructs reality).

    Moral responsibility: Walter has a distorted self-image because he “zones out”


    and fails to connect with the world around him. He struggles to handle his
    responsibilities and instead makes questionable decisions because he is not fully
    aware of how his present inaction influences his future.

    Identity: Walter explores how his identity has been shaped by external forces
    seemingly out of his control. As LIFE magazine moves online, Walter struggles to
    conceptualize his identity in the dawn of the technological age, knowing that he must
    change how he lives his life if he is to become seen and heard.

    Odyssey: Walter’s sister, Odessa, symbolizes his journey or awakening. He learns


    how to take charge of his life by seeking greater balance with the natural and
    technological world, leading to a way of living he never thought possible.
    Pre-Viewing
    Activities

    Discuss

    What do you daydream about


    most often? What might this
    tell you about yourself?
    Get Creative!

    How does technology help you


    connect with the world around
    you? How does it hinder you
    from making connections? View

    Use the Graffiti Art Maker app


    to showcase words that come to Watch this Sherry Turkle clip:
    mind. Then share your
    creations on the class website. https://www.ted.com/talks/sh
    erry_turkle_alone_together

    Do you agree with her main


    argument that we are “alone
    together?”
    Viewing
    Activity

    In groups of 4, each student will select a minimum of 2 of the


    following questions to answer during the film. Afterwards, discuss the
    answers as a group.

    1. Is technology the reason that Walter disengages from reality?


    2. How does Walter adapt to changes in his personal and
    professional life through technology?
    3. What are the main inspirations for Walter’s daydreams?
    4. How do people respond to Walter’s daydreaming?
    5. Is the evolution of LIFE magazine good or bad?
    6. What does Sean O’Connell represent?
    7. How does Walter’s decisions in his own life mirror or challenge
    LIFE’s motto?
    8. Does Walter embark on an odyssey by himself? How do other
    people as well as technology help or hinder his journey?
    9. How do other people help Walter construct his self-image?
    10. What is the significance of Walter realizing he had photo #25
    all along?
    11. Are all of Walter’s daydreams problematic? Do they ever help
    him connect to reality?
    Post-Viewing
    Discussion

    Guiding question: Can technology make us feel more alone? Can it also
    help bring us together?

    In groups of 2, students will select one of the following articles and


    connect them to Walter’s life and their own lives about the potential
    negative aspects of technology and disconnection:
    • http://elitedaily.com/life/generation-social-isolation/1069493/
    • https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/generation-z-online-
    and-at-risk/

    Discussion prompts: Do you always use technology responsibly? Have


    you ever gotten into trouble for not “connecting” with the world around
    you? What were the consequences?

    Students select an opposing article that argues technology helps connect


    us with each other. Thinking of the pros and cons, students will then
    create challenging questions about healthy connections to technology and
    then pose those questions to the class through the Four Corners activity:
    https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/teaching-
    strategies/four-corners .
    Post-Viewing
    Media Production

    Class Discussion
    Music, landscape, and photography are key elements of this film; they are also media
    constructions. Read the following article and then with a partner, create a mind map
    outlining the key elements of media literacy:http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-
    literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/media-literacy-
    fundamentals .

    First Task Second Task


    Many of the film’s scenes are As we saw in the film, sometimes
    visually captivating, similar to how media distorts reality. Select an
    photos are displayed in LIFE article/story of interest from a social
    magazine. Reflect on how media media platform. Take note of the way
    (including sound) influences how the story has been constructed (e.g.,
    a story is told. Then select a piece graphics, data, anecdotes) and
    of technology you can’t live determine how the story portrays or
    without. Use the language from distorts reality. After doing research
    the Media Smarts article to on the topic, construct your own
    construct a PSA about the media construction to represent the
    benefits/implications of using the story. Take part in a peer analysis to
    technology. Demonstrate discuss what you’re learned from the
    strategies for how to use tasks!
    Extended Activities

    Using a social media


    platform of your choice,
    design a character sketch
    of Walter Mitty.

    What active steps can you take to be more aware


    of your own digital image online? Come up with
    your own strategy and post it on Twitter using
    #medialiteracy. Search relevant hashtags for
    further inspiration!

    Watch/listen/read a news story and try to


    identify unethical constructions of the way
    information is portrayed. Why is it
    unethical? What would make it ethical?
    References

    Adkins, K. (2015, July 31). “Walter Mitty quotation” [Image]. Retrieved from
    https://kladkins92film.wordpress.com/2015/07/31/week-one-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty/

    Art’s Camera Plus. (n.d.). “Camera Roll” [Image]. Retrieved from


    http://www.artscameras.com/film-processing/

    Art Post Gallery. (n.d.). “Antique Map” [Image]. Retrieved from


    https://artpostgallery.com/category/antique-maps/

    Calm Sea Raging Undertow. (n.d.). “Walter in Black and White” [Image]. Retrieved from
    https://calmsearagingundertow.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/why-i-almost-the-secret-life-of-
    walter-mitty/

    “Facebook Logo.” (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.freeiconspng.com/images/facebook-logo-


    png

    Forbes. (n.d.). “Walter and Cheryl” [Image]. Retrieved from https://b-


    i.forbesimg.com/markhughes/files/2013/12/Secret-Life-of-Walter-Mitty-4.png

    Jentis, M. (n.d.). “Newspaper” [Image].


    http://sites.psu.edu/matthewjentis5228/2015/02/04/passion-blog-semester-2-2-newspaper-
    comics-that-demonstrate-everyones-inner-child/

    Media Smarts. (2017). Media literacy fundamentals [Article]. Retrieved from


    http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-
    fundamentals/media-literacy-fundamentals

    Plugged In. (n.d.). “Walter on the Wing” [Image]. Retrieved from


    http://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/secret-life-of-walter-mitty/

    Qyer. (n.d.). “Walter Longboarding” [Image]. Retrieved from http://bbs.qyer.com/thread-


    1398921-1.html

    Rolling Stone. (2013, December 24). “Walter Mitty and Cake” [Image].Retrieved from
    http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-20131224

    “Snapchat Logo.” (n.d.). Retrieved from https://worldvectorlogo.com/logo/snapchat

    “Twitter Logo.” (n.d.). Retrieved from http://logo.savestatesociety.net/twitter-logo/

    YouTube. (2013). “Walker Biking” [Image]. Retrieved from


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHvRB2c8CIM

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