Philosophy of Film

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This course is an introduction to the philosophy of film. Readings will be primarily drawn from philosophy, but we will also make use of resources from film criticism and film theory. Issues to be considered include: (1) The nature of film. What distinguishes film from other forms of art, such as the theater? Must film be realistic? And is film a narrative or a dramatic art form? Finally, do films have authors? (2) The experience of film. Is our engagement with film primarily cognitive or emotional? What is the appropriate approach to film as a viewer? Why do we watch films--such as horror films--that arouse unpleasant emotions? (3) The politics of film. Is film inherently ideological, or can film be critical? If film can perform a critical function, how would it do so? Time permitting, we may also consider questions about the possibility of philosophizing in a cinematic medium and the nature and prospects of film theory. In addition to readings, students should expect to watch between 10 and 15 films throughout the semester, to be drawn from the work of directors including Pedro Almodóvar, Charlie Chaplin, John Ford, Sergei Eisenstein, Jean-Luc Godard, Alfred Hitchcock, Spike Lee, Akira Kurosawa, Jean Renoir, Leni Riefenstahl, Quentin Tarantino, and Orson Welles.