Subject: Re: [HM] The Good Will Hunting principle
From: Barbara Jur (jur01b@macomb.cc.mi.us)
Date: Mon Jun 26 2000 - 12:15:26 EDT
It is always interesting to read critiques from people who have not seen the
production. If there was one truth about the movie, it was that the
mathematicians depicted were not stereotyped. The mathematician who did the
most to help Will was characterized as a sympathetic and interesting
teacher, a Field's medalist and an active researcher. Graduate students and
another faculty person were also introduced. The other faculty member was
shown as sorely disappointed that Will could easily solve a problem he was
working on. The protagonist was sympathetic and did all he could to enable
Will to succeed in obtaining a job which would challenge his talents. He
too felt the envy of Will's talent which is to say he was human. The
mathematicians were not depicted as "nerds" or silly or one dimensional. If
you accepted the value of doing mathematical research, then the tension of
the movie over the acceptance or rejection of a career path made sense.
Too put it another way--I have met all these people in my years in
mathematics. I understand the attraction of research and the frustration of
encountering people who do it easier. These were the most realistic
mathematicians I have ever seen in the movies. They were not perfect, but
they were not cardboard. As theater it worked well. We may not agree with
Will's final choice, but it was not because mathematics was painted to be
unattractive.
Barbara Jur
Macomb CC
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