Hollywood’s America – Love, Simon 2018

Background
One of the better things to come from Hollywood in the past twenty years is a heightened awareness of the
responsibility in accurately representing race, gender, and sexuality. In previous decades, we have seen
films in which the dialogue is casual in racist and discriminatory language toward women and people in the
LGBTQ+ community. Love, Simon is a teen rom com, based on the Young Adult novel Simon and the Homo
Sapiens Agenda and one of the first teen films that portrays the stress and anxiety of teen sexuality and the
issues surrounding coming out to family and friends.

Steps to Complete the Task

Step 1: Watch Film

Step 2: Complete Assignment

Step 3: Submit through Blackboard

Assignment

Director – Greg Berlanti

Written by – Becky Albertalli, Elizabeth Berger

Cast:
Nick Robinson – Simon Spier
Jennifer Garner – Emily Spier
Josh Duhamel – Jack Spier
Talitha Bateman – Nora Spier
Katherine Langford – Leah
Alexandra Shipp – Abby
Keiynan Lonsdale – Bram (Blue)
Jorge Lendeborg, Jr. – Nick
Logan Miller – Martin
Tony Hale – Mr. Worth

If you use any source, be sure to document in the body of your paper (parenthetical) and works cited at the
end of your completed assignment.

Consider the following questions as you write an essay format (500 to 750 word minimum). Your essay
should consider the teen experience in friendship, love, bullying, and high school social issues. These are
questions to help prompt your analysis, but you are not limited to them.

1. Simon narrates the film. How does this help the arc of his story?

2. Does Love, Simon more accurately depicts the high school experience compared to Breakfast Club?
Explain.

3. What does the reference to and use of the Ferris wheel symbolize in the film?

4. Do the principal and teachers respond appropriately to the bullying that is ongoing in the film? Why or
why not?

5. How does Simon’s family influence his coming out?

6. One of the most poignant lines in the movie is on Christmas Day, when Simon comes out to his parents.
He says, “Mom, I’m still me.” Why is that small sentence such an important statement?

*You may use these prompts but not limited to them as you review the movie.