The five films we have watched (Modern Times, The Killing Floor, Norma Rae, Working Man, and Office
Space) are set in very different eras, ranging from 1917 to today. I want you to write a paper (1,200 words) in
which you answer the following questions. Your answers do not have to discuss every film, but they should
provide specific examples from at least three of the films.
(1) What are some common themes in the films about the place of workers in American society?
(2) What are they saying about the role of work in people’s lives?
(3) Looking at the films as a whole, what strikes you as some of the biggest changes in the workplace over the
period they cover? What has not changed in the work environment?
Sample Solution
