Lisa Rogers ePortfolio Analytical Inquiry Reflection Form

This artifact, titled Movie Review: Legally Blonde, was submitted for
ELPS 433: Student Development Theory in Higher Education. The objective
of this assignment was to watch a movie about college students and apply
student development theories to explain how the protagonist is engaging in
and moving through chosen theories. Though I enjoyed learning about
theory, it was often difficult for me to apply it. This paper provided me the
opportunity to analyze a real-world experience and apply what I was
learning in the classroom. For this reason, I believe this paper demonstrates
the learning outcome of analytical inquiry.
For those that are familiar with the Legally Blonde film, it is obvious
that Elle is transformed throughout her journey at Law School. I chose to
apply Chickering and Reissers Theory of Identity Development and Bems
Gender Schema. Utilizing these theories, I was able to identify how the two
main female characters in the film move through the stages. Additionally, it
accordance with the learning outcome, I was able to identify places in which
the institution could have supported the characters further in their identity
development. Through seeing where the university in the film was unable to
support the characters, I reflected on how I could interact with women such
as these in my own work.
Finally, this paper gave me the opportunity to explore how cultural and
historical structures play a role in my own interpretation of the film. For
example, it was only until I wrote my conclusion that I realized all of the lead
and supporting characters were White. This allowed me to really reflect on

Lisa Rogers ePortfolio Analytical Inquiry Reflection Form

how race plays a role in my own life and work, as well as in the lives of the
characters in the film. Overall, Im very proud of my ability to analyze and
apply theory in this assignment.