introduction

 

columbia college chicago, dr. ann hetzel gunkel

columbia catalog description

Course no: humanities 51-2405
This course addresses a series of philosophical themes including ethical issues, metaphysical questions, and existential quandaries. The study of philosophy can open up vistas of meaning to any student and films can effectively realize abstract ideas in palpable and compelling ways. (No prerequisites.)

course overview

Film has become one of the dominant forms of artistic expression and idea communication. This course not only gives the student better tools for analyzing and understanding films , but also aids them in the art of self-reflection. Films will be studied that reflect perennial philosophical problems and students will read important works by eminent philosophers such as Descartes, Marx, and Plato.

This course will challenge you to:

• reexamine your beliefs and opinions;
• read and view carefully and critically;
  
• evaluate complex texts, ideas, and images;
  
• develop your critical skills for engaging the world;
  
• take responsibility for what you think and believe;
  
• examine a body of literature in detail;
  
• analyze and critique ideas and images in written and oral forms.