Burton, Emory C. "Sociology and the Feature Film". Teaching Sociology, Vol. 16, No. 3. (Jul., 1988): 263-271.

This article focuses on film and it use as an educational tool within the context of a sociology classroom. The article is meant to be informative and instructional for sociology professors specifically, however it offers insight as to how film can have a great impact on students and how it can teach said student sociological subjects. Emory Burton, the author of the article, bases his statements on the research carried out by numerous sociologists. This research supports the claim that movies are effective teaching tools because they allow viewers to vicariously experience the life or hardships of characters from different times, classes, and of different circumstances. Vivre Sa Vie is a film that presents a sociological issue and it is meant to stimulate serious thought and reflection within the viewer on a real life social problem. In that sense, this article relates directly to the film, because it discusses how film has been shown to be effective in stimulating such thought. Godard's film attempts to present the reality of a social issue in an intellectual manner in order to encourage critical thought.

Waller, Bruce N. Neglected Psychological Elements of Free Will. Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology. Volume 11, Number 2, June 2004: 111-118. This journal article by Bruse Waller offers both insight on the psychological elements behind free will and criticism of contemporary philosophers who, according to Waller, ignore concepts of psychology that are necessary for fully understanding free will. Free will is apparently based on external factors, as well as two factors within the human mind: a locus of control, and a belief in self-efficacy. A locus of control is essentially a belief that one.s choices control the path of one.s life. A belief in self-efficacy is a belief in one.s competency or ability to make good, informed decisions. Waller criticizes existentialists and philosophers, both of whom fail to grasp both the concept of locus of control and self efficacy. Existentialists, Waller says, believe that free will requires a complete locus of control, and absence of self-efficacy. Therefore if individuals want to have free will they must fully believe in their ability to control their lives, but all decisions must be made with complete uncertainty because individuals must not have self efficacy. Philosophers, on the other hand, believe that humans with free will can possess confidence in their self-efficacy, but realize that their lives are controlled by external factors, and thus they must lack a locus of control. Waller is of the belief that both a locus of control and self-efficacy are necessary for a person to have free will and therefore philosophers should study these elements more closely. If a person lacks one element, then he or she will either surrender to external factors or be paralyzed by the uncertainty of his or her decisions. Waller.s article covers one of the main themes within Vivre Sa Vie. Godard explores an individual woman who believes she possesses free will, but who, in reality, is controlled by external factors. Waller brings up an example of such a person: someone who possesses a free will, but is completely lacking control. Waller states that this is an especially cruel scenario and draws a metaphor of a child being given a toy steering wheel and being told it controls a vehicle that is, in reality, completely out of the child.s control.

Maslin, Janet. High-rolling Boy Meets Street Walking Girl. New York Times. March 23, 1990. Section C, p 20. This film review of the 1990 movie Pretty Woman offers a glowing report on the movie's escapist plot and likeable actors. Janet Maslin, the reviewer, describes the film as a modern day fairy tale and she offers many compliments to the leading actors Julia Roberts and Richard Gere for offering audiences an enjoyable diversion. The movie's plot follows Vivian (Julia Roberts), a young, attractive prostitute, and Edward (Richard Gere), a wealthy workaholic who both strike up a deal in which Edward pays Vivian $3,000 and lavishes her with luxurious treatment in return for one week of her companionship. The film follows the exploits of these two characters who eventually fall in love. This movie offers a view of how the subject of prostitution can be presented in a manner that is wildly different from the one presented in Vivre Sa Vie. Pretty Woman could perhaps be seen as the opposite extreme to Godard.s film, as every film element described within the review is vastly different from the film elements within Vivre Sa Vie. Pretty Woman is a film that apparently requires .wishful thinking. on the part of the audience, and its ultimate goal is to entertain and divert viewers, offering a very pleasant, but unrealistic story of prostitution.