Throughout my Digital Communications and Technology class, we have watched and read an innumerable number of shows and articles. For this blog post, I wanted to propose the addition of a show to the class syllabus. This show, only six episodes long, keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I propose the addition of a Netflix original, Bodyguard.
I watched this show about a year and a half ago and the only problem I had with it, was how short it was. However, for the purpose of this class, six episodes is perfect. Though, you should not be deceived by how short the show is. There is always a new plot developing. I promise you, students will be so intrigued by the show that they will actually want to watch the show and will not even consider it to be homework… the girls in class will particularly love it because the main character is played by Richard Madden… ooh la la.
The plot starts off quick. Sergeant Richard Budd is tasked with protecting Home Secretary Julia Montague at an important public speaking event. Montague had previously faced many death threats and even an attempted assassination at a previous speech. The hate she was receiving was over her new government surveillance bill. She hopes this bill will help her in her effort to oust the current Prime Minister.
This show is perfect for this class because it is all about surveillance. In class, we read a couple articles about surveillance and people’s opinions about their loss of privacy. We also read The Circle which shows us how going completely transparent will almost always lead to a poor outcome. Now, although a little different, Bodyguard is rather similar to those articles and the book, just a lot more intense and interesting. There are several cases in which surveillance is used or presented to the public and there is a lot of backlashes. I think it would be interesting for students to see how governmental surveillance would impact us and further develop the student’s understanding of the impact surveillance can have on people and a population as a whole.
As far as assigning the episodes for homework, I would have them watch and reflect. In class, we use Padlet and complete many blog posts (like I am doing right now). If I were the professor, I would have them watch one episode a night. Each episode is approximately one hour long some, being the nice professor that I would be, would only assign one episode at a time. I would then have them reflect on Padlet. I would ask them to write a sentence or two (maybe a prediction for the next episode,) then create a question relating to the theme of the episode. Finally, after they finished the series, I would ask them to write a mini-blog post of 250 words. This would allow them to further reflect on the show and draw in previous readings and discussions. I would also have students reflect on how this show may apply to real life. I know that a lot of this show is unrealistic and they will never be in Sergeant Budd’s position, however, I want them to analyze the show as if they were an everyday civilian in the show. This will allow them to predict what their lives would be like if the surveillance that exists in the show existed in real life today.
Overall, this show is all about surveillance and I think this would fit in very well with some of the readings from the Digital Self theme that I had in class. Bodyguard is a little violent and has a lot of PG13 scenes however, I think it is definitely appropriate for this course and would fit right in with the topics we learn about in class.
Well, fellow bloggers, this is my last blog post. It has been a ride. I will miss all of my readers. Check back occasionally for a random post in the future.
Signing off,
Schnorrlax
