24.213
Philosophy of Film
Explores the philosophical analysis of cinematic art. Topics may include the nature of film, authorship, interpretation, ethical, narration, metaphor, meta-criticism, political and emotional engagement with the cinematic experience. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
Fall 2004
Topics
- Introduction
- Film: Welles, Orson. Citizen Kane (1941).
- Film: Allen, Woody. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985).
- Film: Visconti, Luchino. Death in Venice (1971).
- Film: Renoir, Jean. The Rules of the Game (1939).
- Film: Hitchcock, Alfred. The 39 Steps (1935).
- Film: Hitchcock, Alfred. Psycho (1960).
- Video: Camera Three: The Illustrated Hitchcock . Interview with Pia Lindstrom, 1972.
- Film: Hitchcock, Alfred. Vertigo (1958).
- Video: Orson Welles: Stories From a Life in Film . Interview with Leslie Megahey, BBC Television, 1989.
- Film: Welles, Orson. The Magnificent Ambersons (1942).
- Film: Renoir, Jean. The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1936).
- Discussion
Readings
- LEC #: 1 · TOPICS/READINGS: Introduction
- LEC #: 2 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Reality Transformed. pp. i-xiv, 1-50.
- LEC #: 3 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Reality Transformed . pp. 53-78.
- LEC #: 4 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Reality Transformed . pp. 81-127.
- LEC #: 5 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Reality Transformed . pp. 131-189.
- LEC #: 6 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Reality Transformed . pp. 191-200.
- LEC #: 7 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Three Philosophical Filmmakers . pp. ix-46.
- LEC #: 8 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Three Philosophical Filmmakers . pp. 46-75.
- Video: Camera Three: The Illustrated Hitchcock . Interview with Pia Lindstrom, 1972.
- LEC #: 9 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Three Philosophical Filmmakers . pp. 77-145.
- LEC #: 10 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Three Philosophical Filmmakers . pp. 147-178.
- Video: Orson Welles: Stories From a Life in Film . Interview with Leslie Megahey, BBC Television, 1989.
- LEC #: 11 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Three Philosophical Filmmakers . pp. 178-219.
- LEC #: 12 · TOPICS/READINGS: Singer, Irving. Three Philosophical Filmmakers . pp. 221-257.
- LEC #: 13 · TOPICS/READINGS: Discussion
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor Acad Year 2027-2028: U (Spring) Acad Year 2028-2029: Not offered 3-0-9 units. HASS-H
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2004
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.