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Film and Philosophy
Undergraduate | MAQ-PHIX365 | 2019
Course information for 2019 intake
Pinpoint the creative crossroad between film and philosophy. See cinema as a subjective experience. Engage in cinematic thinking. Consider the viewpoints of philosophers and filmmakers. Question how and why film has a special way of affecting the viewer.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- -
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Film and Philosophy
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will have the ability:
- to find, analyse and evaluate primary and secondary sources and present a well-argued philosophical discussion in an essay format
- to interpret and examine developments in philosophy of film that deal with theoretical problems as well as broader philosophical and cultural issues
- to analyse and explore the relationship between theory and practice in contemporary cinema and its link with philosophy
- to apply philosophical theories to specific film examples
- to locate and evaluate contemporary media discussions of film from a philosophical point of view
- to create or design a means of communicating your own reflections on philosophy of film
- to participate actively in group discussion and learning activities.
- What is Philosophy of Film/Film-Philosophy?
- Ontologies of the Moving Image
- Understanding Film Narrative
- Cognitivism Goes to the Movies
- Affect and Emotion in Cinema
- Cinematic Ethics
- Film as Philosophy: Pro and Contra
- Film Philosophy Case Studies
This subject was previously known as PHI350 Film and Philosophy.
What can philosophy teach us about cinema? What can film show us about philosophy? Can films do philosophy? This subject explores these questions across a range of writings dealing with philosophical, aesthetic and ethical aspects of our engagement with film. We examine the ways in which film itself can explore philosophical problems in visual and narrative terms. We begin with the problems of cinematic representation, visual perception and the ontology of the moving image. We consider how film represents our subjective experience by exploring the phenomenology of perception, movement, emotional engagement and time-consciousness. We analyse how films can explore philosophical ideas, focusing on the provocative claim that films can do philosophy by cinematic means. Finally, we examine some of the ethical, moral and ideological implications of film in modern culture. Throughout the subject, we analyse the work of philosophers who investigate the philosophical dimensions of film, or who construct new ways of thinking about film philosophically. We also study various films and filmmakers from a philosophical perspective with the aim of demonstrating the creative intersection between film and philosophy.
- Participation (15%)
- Journal (30%)
- Quizzes (15%)
- Essay (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
MAQ-PHI350 (Not currently available)
Others
You must complete some Level 1 and 2 studies before starting this subject. Prior study in Philosophy is recommended.
Additional requirements
- Other requirements -
Some films will need to be purchased or hired
Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
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