Sociology 2111: Worksheet --"Roger and Me

1. Why did Michael Moore choose to highlight the economic troubles of Flint, Michigan?

2. Why did General Motors make a decision to close most of its production facilities in Flint? How did the company's representatives justify the decision?

3. Describe ways in which General Motors workers were affected by the layoffs, and the ways in which they tried to adapt to the change in their economic situation.

4. How did Flint's upper classes react to the layoff?

5. Why do you think Moore gave so much attention to the Flint visits by Michigan's entrant in the Miss America pageant and by the host of the Newlywed Game?

Group Project Sociology 2111 "Roger and Me"

Use the video, "Roger and Me," as if it were research data for a "test" of Marx's theories about capitalism and its effects.

1. Which aspects of Marx's theory are supported by the movie?

2. Which aspects of Marx's theory do not fit as well with the movie?

3. Do you see the movie itself as being fair or biased, and why? What else would you want to know about the plant closings and their aftermath to make a better decision about questions 1) and 2)?