Hollywood Politics

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

• relief
• in the wake
• espousing
• activists

• sticky
• lend
• move
• cause

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

In the last few years, Hollywood actors have become much more visible on the political scene. They have spoken out against the war in Iraq, and against the Republican party.

During the Academy Awards the last few years, winning actors have used their short acceptance speeches to voice their political views and to try to mobilize the masses. When Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his role in The Pianist, he spoke out against the war, and continued to talk even when the music started playing to get him off stage.

Recently, George Clooney has been very active. His two recent Hollywood films, Good Night, and Good Luck, and Syriana, both exposed darkness and corruption within the US government. He also went to Darfur with his father to film the genocide there. Parts of that film were on Oprah.

Listen to Kevin and Mason talk about Hollywood activists.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Kevin

Mason

Kevin:  Well, I’ve noticed in recent years, I mean, especially, I think since the 2000 elections, a real, uh, openness and, um, presence of the Hollywood activists, like Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, um, who else? I’m not thinking… I can’t think at the moment. Um…

Mason:  You know, George Clooney, uh…

Kevin:  Sharon Stone... like, Bono...

Mason:  To me, to me… it’s sticky when they get into politics. But, like, if they want to lend their power to move people to a cause, you know, whether that’s, like foreign aid, you know, third world country relief, or, you know, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina or whatever…

Kevin:  Sure, sure.

Mason:  There’s a place, but, but, when they start espousing their political views personally, you know, that, that’s kinda… I don’t know.

Kevin:  You know, I personally don’t have a huge problem with it, although I see where you’re going. And… although we saw in 2004 in the election, it… they made a lot of noise. The end result was not in their favor.

Mason:  Not so much.

Kevin:  Or our favor, for that matter.

 

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