Film as Literature

Exploring Characterization with Legally Blonde

Do you know how to "read" a film? It's a lot like reading a book, and it requires careful attention to things like themes, characterization, dialogue, and more!

In this class, you'll gain key academic reading skills by viewing film as literature.

We'll watch Legally Blonde to discuss characterization. How do authors create characters? What strategies do they use to tell us how to view them? What happens when they defy the expectations of their characterization?

Gain Key Academic Writing and Reading Foundations

Students will learn foundational academic writing and reading skills including attention to detail, exploration of literary themes, note-taking, and discussion. They will practice these skills through themed writing assignments based on the film and supplemental materials. 

Course Details

  • Self-Paced Format: This is a self-paced class, which means you can take as much time as you'd like. The suggested schedule is 4 weeks. This class will require facilitator (parent/guardian/tutor) feedback. Rubrics and feedback guidance are included.

  • Find Individual Process: This class is designed to help you think critically and reflect meaningfully on the themes rather than find a single "right" answer.

  • Supplies: To participate successfully in class, learners will need the following: PDF Reader, Word Processing Software (such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word), access to Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

Pricing options

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities.

Is this the right fit?

This class is designed to be accessible to a range of students, and the final project is adaptable to meet a variety of needs in terms of difficulty. To be successful in this class, students should be able to: 

  • Write about 500 words (about 2 pages double spaced) on a single topic
  • Confidently read texts at or above 800L on the Lexile rating
  • Participate in group discussions respectfully

This class is a good fit for both middle and high school learners who want to practice literary analysis skills in a fun and engaging environment.

Skills Gained

Students will practice literary analysis skills around a specific theme while watching and discussing a film.

The class will culminate in a final project that allows personal exploration of that theme.

Individual Support

All students will receive individualized video feedback on all rough drafts that specifically addresses their rough draft submissions.

My teaching philosophy very much focuses on starting with students’ strengths to build confidence and using them to work on improvements over time.

Feedback is tailored to each student’s individual needs and goals. I also encourage a lot of self-reflection and provide opportunities for students to directly communicate their challenges so that facing them with strategies becomes a normal part of the writing process.

Content Warning

Legally Blonde is rated PG-13 and contains some sexual references and jokes and some stereotypes (some explored critically and others less so — including some about gay men).

Families are encouraged to pre-screen the film if they have any concerns.

Meet Your Teacher!

Michelle Parrinello-Cason

Dr. Michelle Parrinello-Cason is the founder of Dayla Learning. She has a PhD in rhetoric and composition, a passion for helping students find their writing voice, and two homeschooling children of her own. Michelle has taught in a wide variety of settings including six years as a full-time college professor. She has been teaching virtual and in-person homeschool writing and humanities classes for more than five years. Michelle believes in meeting students where they are and — as any of her previous students will tell you — believes deeply that there is no such thing as a bad rough draft!