Addressing "non suitable" films in school : A Case study on Flickan, mamman och demonerna and the film pedagogic conditions

Abstract: The idea of what is suitable for children depends on the understandings and expectations of what childhood is and should contain. While "suitable" films have been praised for their obvious pedagogic function, "non-suitable" films (such as popular and violent films) have also managed to emerge into the film pedagogic context with varying arguments, e.g. that film education should reflect the reality of the youth or that children will see the films anyway and need guidance.     This thesis explores a contemporary Swedish example of a contested children's film that was produced for school cinema but classified as harmful for children under the age of fifteen by the Swedish Media Council. By situating the case in relation to film pedagogic history and aspects from  the use of violent films in the 1980's, the study shows how the film pedagogic discourse can be influenced by an anxiety concerning the "child's best".  The study enhances the significant role of "enthusiastic teachers" and  the importance of considering the current film pedagogic conditions.