Culture, Place, and Self
55-50 Minutes
Guided Discussion
Watch a Film
Guided Discussion
Writing Exercise
Send a Postcard(optional, add 5 minutes)
Closing Thoughts and Evaluations
Participants will be able to:
Identify cultural, familial, and emotional factors that influence a person’s decision to leave home or enter a new culture as seen in a short film
Explain both the positive and negative impacts that relocation can have on mental wellness, identity, and relationships.
Analyze how the film protagonist's move to another country affected their sense of belonging and their connection to those left behind.
Reflect on personal ideas of “home” and how place, culture, and emotional needs shape where they might feel grounded or well.
"Culture, Place, and Self" invites participants to consider how moving to a new country or living within a new culture can shape a person's mental wellness. After an opening discussion about the impacts of immigration, participants will watch _Frozen Out_, a short film by Chinese-born, LGBTQ+ filmmaker Hao Zhou that offers an intimate look at what it means to leave home and navigate life between two worlds. Through guided discussion, participants will reflect on the complexity of the protagonist's decision to emigrate, the ways it reshaped their relationships, and what is gained and lost when place and identity are in tension. A private free write invites participants to imagine what "home" could mean to them, and the class concludes with a final reflection on ideas and insights to carry forward.
Notes:
- This class includes an optional Postcard to Filmmaker activity. If incorporating this activity, please allow approximately 5 additional minutes of class time.
- The free write in this class is private and should not be required to be shared with the instructor or other participants.
- This film contains a brief reference to homophobia.
topics covered
Immigration
aom nutrients
Empathy, Honest Self Reflection
casel sel
Social awareness, Relationship skills
wellness wheel
Social
identities
Immigrant, East Asian, Nonbinary
film style
Drama
