As a follow-up to the interview unit, students viewed the documentary film Postville (often shown twice by the instructors). The instructors used various approaches in teaching the film (choosing one or more of the following):
- analyzing film techniques and comparing a documentary to other film forms
- evaluating the use of multiple interviews/perspectives (connection to the interview unit)
- discussing diversity issues
- examining the vocabulary of different faiths
- analyzing the use of irony and satire in the film (the oral narration often stated one belief and the visuals depicted the opposing perspective)
The film Postville was chosen because it shows religious and ethnic diversity in Iowa when populations of Hasidic Jews and Latinos/as moved into a small Caucasian community. Challenges to this unit included focusing on one or two objectives (rather than the many objectives listed in the bullets) and encouraging students to talk about diversity issues.
Copies of Postville may be checked out from 403 Ross Hall. Postville may be used with a multicultural or global theme or for a general diversity discussion. Instructors may also wish to use it as a way of analyzing a visual form. The materials also may be helpful in teaching other films.