Sociology Assignment

Slumdog Millionaire

EXTENDED RESPONSE

Choose ONE of the following topics to write about.

Write your answer on the back of this page. Responses should fill the entire space given.

DUE at the end of class

15 Points

Option 1

Following its release in India, the film faced criticism from various members of the public alleging that the film fuels Western stereotypes about poverty in India and that it peddles "poverty porn". Tapeshwar Vishwakarma, a representative of a slum-dwellers' welfare group, filed a defamation lawsuit against the film's music composer A.R. Rahman and actor Anil Kapoor, alleging that grim depiction of slum dwellers violated their human rights. Vishwakarma's filing argued that the very title of the movie is derogatory, and he was particularly displeased that Indians associated with the film did not object to the use of word "slumdog."Nicholas Almeida, a social activist working in Mumbai, organized a protest against the film on the grounds that it intentionally exploited the poor for the purposes of profit, also arguing that the title Slumdog Millionaire is offensive, demeaning, and insulting to their dignity.

*Do you agree or disagree with the statement above? Argue whether you believe the film was a postive or negative portrayal of Indian culture. Was the film good for the country?

Option 2

The British tabloids reported that Rubina (the young girl that played young Latika in the movie) was also recently "offered up for sale by her father, demanding £200,000 ($295,560 USD) for the 'Oscar child'". The allegation has been denied by the father, who alleges that the British media has misrepresented his position and libeled him. He made a public statement decrying these accusations shortly thereafter, saying:

"My children are with me, and I could give my life for them," ... "I will never sell them to anybody, no matter how much money they offer me.”

*What do you think about the information above? How does the story relate to the conflict perspective of sociology (people putting so much stress on social class and conflicts between people)?

*Do you think the film possibly violated child labor laws? (The children from the slums were paid very low wages to appear in the film)

NAME:______

Title:______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______5 PTS

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______10 PTS

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______15 PTS *You need to provide at least 3 examples from the movie for full points