Defrim Namani
English 100 Assignment #3 Film Based Argument Due Date: 3/23 at 11:59pm Slumdog Millionaire: Street Knowledge vs Academic Knowledge In Slumdog Millionaire, screenwriter Simon Beufoy shares the story of Jamal, a boy who grew up in the slum neighborhoods in India, and managed to gain a spot in the game show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Throughout the film, Jamal is shown as a person who has overcome many obstacles to survive, including an experience of torture when he provides the correct answers to many game show questions. The film addresses the concept of different knowledge's by having the police torture Jamal because they believe he cheated. The definition of knowledge is facts, information, or skill acquired by that person through experience or education. The officials claims there is no way Jamal could have won by using his own knowledge because he is an uneducated “slumdog.” Jamal wins the game show because his “street” knowledge, which involves learning from everyday life, allows him to answer trivial questions that were chosen to confuse a contestant. Scott Berkun is the author of five popular books on creativity, leadership, philosophy and speaking. He says, “Street smarts means you’ve put yourself at risk and survived. Or thrived. Or have scars. You’ve been tested and have a bank of courage to depend on when you are tested again.” Overall, Jamal’s story illustrates that “street” knowledge can be as valuable as academic knowledge. Jamal was tested and survived the streets, and through these experiences he gained “street” knowledge. Jamal was a tea boy. How could he have known so much? Jamal didn’t go to school or anything, he went through so much when he was a little kid. Those experiences are the ones that taught him everything he needed. Jamal was a Muslim Indian. The Hindu had a problem with the Muslims, and they decided to attack Jamal’s village. Hundreds of men who were Hindu ran in the village with weapons killing children, men, and women. Jamal was playing in the water where his mom was washing clothes at when his mom suddenly yelled “Run Jamal Run”. Jamal did not know what was happening. When he looked back while trying to escape he saw his mother get killed. He then ran through the village and made his way out, and he realized what had happened. He learned from this experience that the Hindu and Muslim did not like each other. Another example is when the boys arrive at the Taj Mahal. They had never seen anything so beautiful. They walked around learned how important it was, and gathered information on it by listening to the tour guides. Then they learned that they can be tour guides as well. They lied to others by being fake tour guides, and they made money on helping them around the Taj Mahal. They gained knowledge on the Taj Mahal because of this experience. Another example is when the boys are stuck on the train and they have no food or no money. They decide to take business in their own hands. They go inside the train every day, and sell anything they can get their hands on. They learn how to talk to people, and how to make money. They knew they have no choice. At such an early age with everything going on they knew how to grow up fast. Jamal then was tested and won the game show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. How could he have won? How did he know all the answers? He was only a tea boy with no education. That is where irony kicks in. Jamal’s poverty made him rich. All the experiences Jamal went through as kid helped him gain knowledge, and answer the questions to become a millionaire. The gameshow choose a “slumdog” as their contestant because they figured it would be funny to see him answer questions. Jamal being a part of the big spotlight in front of millions watching him did not frighten him one bit. He knew he had been through way worse, and this was nothing. Every question that was being asked to Jamal he knew from his past experiences. The experiences that caused scars, and tested him on his survival in life became the answers to all the questions to become a millionaire. Jamal a poor kid who works as a “tea boy” with no education is now a millionaire. He answered every single question with “street” knowledge which he gained during harsh life experiences. Life tested him, and he managed to survive. The game show tested him, and he won. A “slumdog” answering all the questions was impossible. But, to Jamal it was just another day at life. Work Cited http://scottberkun.com/2010/book-smarts-vs-street-smarts/
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AuthorHello people that are looking at this. My name is Defrim, and I love motivating others. Welcome to my blog(grind). Archives
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