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Film, Philosophy, and the Internet

Module description

Film is an empathy machine. It puts us into others’ shoes and behind their eyes. This window on the world enables us to learn different philosophical concepts, thereby understanding that world more fully. This module will enable you to grasp ideas about aesthetics, logic, ethics and uncertainty from a creativity focussed perspective. Art and media are increasingly constructed, consumed and distorted by digital disruptions. You will examine core notions of philosophy including identity, agency, and value, in relation to a world changed and changing through the Internet. There are no pre-requisites or co-requisites for this module, and no specialist knowledge, skills, or experience are required.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to:

• Introduce, and provide you with an understanding of, key philosophical concepts through examination of written theories and film texts
• Enable you to analyse a variety of films and film types through multiple thinking frameworks
• Provide you with the ability to leverage such critical perspectives for viewing and reflection into broader inter-disciplinary application
• Empower you to comprehend and assess the role of the Internet in the construction and mediation of originality, identity, value, and meaning making
• Help you to develop an understanding of interconnection between current technological innovation and foundational approaches to comprehending culture and society

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Display detailed knowledge of the philosophies of film, creativity, and information
• 2. Demonstrate the ability to read films through a philosophical lens

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Demonstrate an advanced ability to analyse the impact and value of the Internet on film
• 4. Critically assess the intersecting arrangement of meaningful culture, its distribution, and reception

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Develop and articulate theoretically grounded original arguments
• 6. Effectively respond to issues of disruption and innovation through conceptual engineering

Syllabus plan

The module will proceed with a weekly pattern of reading, screening, lecture, and seminar discussion to address specific philosophical concepts and argument types, inspired, encapsulated by, or articulated through a film/genre, and expressive of issues relevant to the developments of the Internet.

Topics may include: independence and identity; value and originality; beauty, aesthetics and art; digital cinema; rationality, performativity and belief; disinformation, privacy and data; imagination and knowledge; agency, freedoms and ethics; realism, artificiality, connectivity and emotion; cultural work and impact; attention, the commons, and alienation.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – If you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – If you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Abuhamad, G., Reif, L.R., Edelman, R.D., O’Neil, C., Zittrain, J., Zuckerman, E., Beales III, J.H., Muris, T.J., Acquisti, A., Downes, L. and Downes, L., 2019. Internet, Big Data & AI Algorithms: Gateway to a new future or a threat to privacy and freedom.
• Appiah, K.A., 2001. Liberalism, individuality, and identity. Critical Inquiry, 27(2), pp.305-332.
• Bassett, C., 2014. Is this not a screen, notes on the mobile phone and cinema. In: M.L. Everett and J.T. Caldwell, eds. Transmedia Frictions: The Digital, the Arts and the Humanities. Berkeley: University of California Press, pp.147-160.
• Borum, C., 2023. The Revolution Will Be Hilarious. New York: New York University Press, pp.152-181.
• Camp, E., 2024. Stories and selves: A twisted love story about the meaning of life. Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements, 95, pp.157-179.
• Floridi, L., 2024. On the future of content in the age of artificial intelligence: Some implications and directions. Philosophy & Technology, 37(3), p.112.
• Gaut, B., 2010. A philosophy of cinematic art. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Gaut, B.N. and Kieran, M., eds., 2018. Creativity and philosophy. London: Routledge.
• Hawley, K., 2018. Creativity and knowledge. In: B.N. Gaut and M. Kieran, eds. Creativity and Philosophy. London: Routledge, pp.60-73.
• Swinton, T., 2020. The view from here. BFI, Sight and Sound, 5 November.
• Yeh, E.Y.Y. and Hu, L.W., 2008. Transcultural sounds: Music, identity, and the cinema of Wong Kar-wai. Asian Cinema, 19(1), pp.32-46.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – Faculty to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages
• Box of Broadcasts & BFI Player - resources available through the electronic library, will be used to access films, programmes and clips

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Aftersun, 2022. [Film] Directed by Charlotte Wells. UK: A24.
• Beau Travail, 1999. [Film] Directed by Claire Denis. France: Pyramide Distribution.
• Bronson, 2008. [Film] Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. UK: Vertigo Films.
• CitizenFour, 2014. [Film] Directed by Laura Poitras. USA: Radius-TWC.
• Eden, 2015. [Film] Directed by Mia Hansen-Løve. France: Ad Vitam.
• Ex Machina, 2014. [Film] Directed by Alex Garland. UK: Universal Pictures.
• Fallen Angels, 1995. [Film] Directed by Wong Kar-wai. Hong Kong: Jet Tone Productions.
• Hale County This Morning, This Evening, 2018. [Film] Directed by RaMell Ross. USA: Independent Lens.
• Macbeth, 2015. [Film] Directed by Justin Kurzel. UK: StudioCanal.
• Margin Call, 2011. [Film] Directed by J.C. Chandor. USA: Lionsgate.
• Minding the Gap, 2018. [Film] Directed by Bing Liu. USA: Hulu.
• Rafiki, 2018. [Film] Directed by Wanuri Kahiu. Kenya: Big World Cinema.
• The Internet’s Own Boy, 2014. [Film] Directed by Brian Knappenberger. USA: Participant Media.
• The Social Network, 2010. [Film] Directed by David Fincher. USA: Columbia Pictures.
• The Square, 2013. [Film] Directed by Jehane Noujaim. Egypt: Netflix.

Key words search

Film, Philosophy, Internet, Creativity, Digital