In a 6-8 page paper, you will summarize and critique the accuracy of how learning and memory
is depicted in the movie Inside Out. You are asked to serve as a memory consultant on the film
for this assignment. You have been assigned to write a review of the movie that highlights three
aspects of learning and memory that are explicitly depicted in the movie.
Importantly, for each of the three topics you discuss, you should:
1. Describe the form of learning/memory, the memory process, or the characteristic of
memory that is depicted.
2. Critically evaluate whether the depiction is accurate or inaccurate, stating exactly what
the director got right or wrong.
3. Provide experimental evidence from the literature discussed in class, peer-reviewed
journal articles you have found, and/or in the readings that supports your evaluation
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Accuracy of Learning and Memory Depiction in Inside Out
Introduction
The Pixar film Inside Out provides a unique perspective on how learning and memory processes function within the human mind. As a memory consultant for the movie, this paper aims to critique the accuracy of how learning and memory are depicted in Inside Out. By examining three specific aspects of learning and memory portrayed in the film, this review will analyze the extent to which the director captured the essence of these cognitive processes. Through a critical evaluation supported by experimental evidence from relevant literature, this paper will shed light on the accuracy of Inside Out in representing learning and memory.
Thesis Statement
Inside Out effectively captures the complexities of learning and memory by depicting key aspects such as memory formation, forgetting, and emotional influence on memory. While the film takes creative liberties for storytelling purposes, it largely aligns with scientific understanding, providing valuable insights into the workings of the human mind.
Memory Formation
Description: Inside Out illustrates memory formation through the character of Riley, showcasing how her core memories shape her personality islands.
Evaluation: The depiction is accurate in highlighting the significance of core memories in shaping one’s identity. However, the film simplifies the concept by portraying memories as singular entities rather than complex neural connections.
Evidence: Research by Schacter (1996) emphasizes that memories are not isolated instances but interconnected networks, supporting the idea that core memories contribute to long-term memory consolidation.
Forgetting
Description: The movie portrays the Memory Dump, where forgotten memories fade away into oblivion.
Evaluation: The concept of a Memory Dump oversimplifies forgetting by implying a permanent erasure of memories. In reality, forgetting is often a result of retrieval failure rather than complete elimination.
Evidence: Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve demonstrates that forgetting follows a systematic pattern where memories decay over time but can be retrieved with appropriate cues, contradicting the notion of memories being irreversibly discarded.
Emotional Influence on Memory
Description: Inside Out explores how emotions like joy, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust influence memory retrieval and consolidation.
Evaluation: The film accurately portrays how emotions can impact memory processing, emphasizing the role of emotional valence in memory formation.
Evidence: Studies by Cahill and McGaugh (1995) demonstrate that emotionally charged events are often better remembered due to the amygdala’s influence on encoding and consolidation processes, supporting the movie’s premise.
Conclusion
Inside Out provides a compelling portrayal of learning and memory processes through its imaginative depiction of Riley’s inner workings. While the film takes creative liberties for narrative purposes, it effectively captures essential aspects of memory formation, forgetting, and emotional influence on memory. By aligning with scientific understanding and offering thought-provoking insights, Inside Out succeeds in bringing cognitive processes to life in a captivating and informative manner. As a memory consultant for the film, I commend its portrayal of learning and memory while acknowledging minor discrepancies for the sake of storytelling.
