CBC Archives

Lead a discussion of how people around the world would view Canadians if the only way they got information about us was to watch how we were portrayed in films.

Direct students to the topic Bright Lights, Political Fights: The Canadian Film Industry on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Ask students to view the topic with an eye to creating a collage of images of Canadians as portrayed in films. As they view this site, they will list these images, draw or find the images they need, and use the images to create a collage. Students will write a few paragraphs to accompany the collage to explain why they chose these visuals and what the visuals represent about Canadians.

Have students share their collages with the class. Ask students how accurate these images are of Canadians and how the images of Canadians in Canadian films are different from the images of Canadians in American films. Discuss the role of film in developing and spreading the influence of Canadian popular culture around the world.

Ask students to view a number of Canadian films. Assign the following personal response questions for homework: Is the role of Canadian film to develop and to reflect our own voice, loyalties, and images? Is there a distinctly Canadian viewpoint and sensibility? Have Canadian films done an effective job of interpreting Canada to Canadians and other nations?