Abstract

The relationship between teachers and students is the most primary and important aspect of interpersonal relation in educational environment. It is a complex and abstract concept, differs in each different stages and certain cultural backgrounds, and is also influenced by teachers and students involved. There are many American movies depicting the topic of education, which draws a lot of attention in literary critic. This thesis intends to analyze the relationship between teachers and students in four typical movies, which are Mona Lisa Smile, Dead Poets Society, Mr. Holland's Opus, and Dangerous Minds. The reasons of choosing these four movies as examples are explained at the beginning of the thesis, and several features of the relationship have been illustrated in details. What is more, the reasons accounting these features are discussed in terms of backgrounds of different aspects.

Keywords： relationship, education, American movies, features, reasons

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

1.1. Introduction of the Four Movies-1

1.2. Reasons of Choosing the Four Movies as Examples-2

1.2.1. Social Background-2

1.2.2. Gender of Protagonists-3

2. Features in the Relationship of the Four Movies-3

2.1. Equality and Democracy-3

2.2. Romanticism-4

2.3. Humanism-7

3. Reasons Account for the Features-8

3.1. Social Background in terms of Education-9

3.2. Background of Teachers-10

3.2.1. Teachers’ Gender, Race and Class-10

3.2.2. Teachers’ Professional Background-10

3.3. Background of Students-11

4. Conclusion-12

References-13