Examine the social context of the movie. By using the perspective of context, consider the time in which the movie was made, or the period the movie was set in. Think about how the context of the film affects its content and viewpoint. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, an American film subgenre depicted the issues of living in predominately urban areas such as Los Angeles and New York. Movies such as “Menace II Society,” “Boyz N the Hood” and “Juice” dealt with issues of youth and authority, themes common to the James Dean and Elvis Presley films of the 1950s. However, in addition to youth, these films dealt with issues of race, class, police brutality and poverty, which were specific to their settings and the events taking place in those communities at that time. “Boyz N the Hood” came about in the midst of the Crips and Bloods gang problem and the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles, and “Menace II Society” was made in the aftermath of the Los Angeles riots of 1992.
Analyze the depth of detail to which the movie deals with societal problems and the tone in which the film deals with them. On the surface, war films are about conflict between two warring countries, tribes or nations. But on a deeper level, these films address the root causes and effects of war. They deal with national and cultural differences, use of resources and emotional loss. Both "Saving Private Ryan" and "Inglorious Basterds" deal with the events of world wars, although in vastly different ways. "Saving Private Ryan" portays the graphic horror of large battlefield action and the emotional connection of families losing sons in the war. The emotional connection speaks to larger issues of the scope of loss and the generational effect it can have on a society. "Inglorious Basterds" takes a satirical and entertaining look at Nazi occupation in France. It examines French compliance with the Nazis, rascism, feminism, vengeance and national pride. "Ryan" deeply exploires the realities while "Basterds" deeply explores the psychology of its characters, while being satirically humorous. When analyzing a movie, study the theme as much as the plot to uncover its subtext. How much subtext is in the film is often an indicator of how deeply the film deals with its themes.
Identify how the film directly addresses sociological issues from a scholarly or academic standpoint. American sociologist C. Wright Mills said sociology is a blend of biography, history and social structure. Watching a film with these three specific things in mind is a way to use the sociological perspective. A movie such as “Dances with Wolves” can be viewed through a historical context lens as well as a social structure lens. It directly addresses the issue of westward expansion and the demise of the American Indians’ traditional way of life. “Avatar” essentially addresses the same issues but the setting is changed to another planet, and the Indians are substituted for an alien race. While "Avatar" can't be viewed in a historical context, it can be viewed in the context of social structure. Both of these films depict European expansion into the New World during the 15th century. Certain films approach their subject matter from a biographical standpoint; for example, “Schindler’s List” was about Oskar Schindler.