Philosophy of Film and Photography

Catalog description

This course investigates a set of philosophical problems concerning visual representation and our experiences of it. Do films and photographs reproduce reality, re-present it, or create it? Can a film make a philosophical statement? Can photographs be true or false? The course will raise questions about the ontology and aesthetics of film: What is a movie? What is the world of a movie? What is it to give a reading of a movie? Can a movie present a philosophy? A film per week will be shown or assigned, together with readings on the film. Students will receive credit for PHI 3060 or FLM 3060, not both. These courses may substitute for each other within the F-replacement option.