PHIL189, Philosophy in FIlm, Fall 2012 Tuesday, 6:30-9:00, 107 O Connell 3 credit hours

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1 PHIL189, Philosophy in FIlm, Fall 2012 Tuesday, 6:30-9:00, 107 O Connell 3 credit hours Instructor: Dr. Mark Smillie Associate Professor, Philosophy Department, Carroll College Office: 142 St. Charles; Ph: ; msmillie@carroll.edu Office Hours: 9:00-10:00, MW; 3:00--4:30, MWTh and by appointment Coursepage: go to moodle2.carroll.edu (moodle2 button on students page) READING MATERIALS Doing Philosophy at the Movies. Richard A. Gilmore. 2005, SUNY. ISBN: $29.95 ($22.50 used) at the Saints Shoppe. Required text. Faith, Film and Philosophy: Big Ideas on the Big Screen. Edited by R. Douglas Geivett and James S. Speigel. 2007, IVP. ISBN: $26.00 ($19.50 used) at the Saints Shoppe. Required text. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will study philosophy through viewing and thinking about films. We shall look at films as stories that people (directors, screen play writers) tell about how the world is, and how it should be, making them perfect starting points for philosophical reflection. The films chosen are compared to

2 philosophical insights of philosophers. Students will acquire experience in philosophical thinking as well as knowledge of specific philosophers. INSTRUCTOR COURSE GOALS Introduce students to some great and philosophically provocative films, as well as some great and provocative philosophy. Hopefully students will develop their appreciate for reflection on films and for philosophical thinking STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES/GOALS In this course, students will Identify philosophical ideas as expressed in a film Strengthen skills at reading philosophical material Develop habits of critical 1 analysis of philosophical ideas and positions Caveats/ disclaimer: 1) Students may vary in their competency levels on these abilities. 2) Students can expect to acquire these abilities only if they honor all course policies, complete all assigned work on time and in good faith, and meet all other course requirements and expectations. COURSE EVALUATION Summaries of the Readings: The purpose of our class meetings is to converse about the readings. Chapter summaries are assigned to encourage you to develop a habit of completing the reading and coming prepared for class; and to include this in the overall grade for the class. These summaries will be one-page (no more/no less) summaries of selected articles or chapters. They are due prior to the class in which the article/chapter is discussed turn them in on moodle (half-hour before class deadline) or bring a hardcopy to class. No late assignments will be accepted. At the end of semester, the lowest score will be dropped. Plot Summaries. One page plot summary for each movie. These will be less difficult to write than the reading summaries, and there are certainly resources to which you have access. But I want you to be accountable for each movie. One written analysis. Select a chapter that will not read in class from Faith, Film and Philosophy. Watch the films. Write a critical analysis of the chapter. This would include a summary of the chapter (1-2 pages) and then an analysis of the point (or some of the points) presented where you argue for or against the thesis/view of the author. Total length of the paper: 5-6 pages. This paper should show evidence of learning from the course. Due nearer the end of the semester. Final exam: comprehensive written exam due during the final week of the course. Weighting of the assignments Summaries of the Readings: 35% Movie Plot Summaries: 20% Written analysis: 25% Final exam: 20% 1 Critical as used in philosophy means to carefully take apart, examine, try to understand and to make better. It isn t a way of being negative about things.

3 Scale for final grade: Percentage points Grade A B C Percentage points Below 60 P/F Grade. Grade D F D (60) PREVIEW OF CLASS ACTIVITIES Most students have not studied philosophy before coming to college, and for most of you, this is your first class in philosophy. I don t expect any background in philosophy or in the areas we will be exploring. Some classes will be devoted to viewing entire films. You are expected to attended these classes. Where there is an assignment for the class, the purpose of our class meetings is to talk about, examine and understand the readings. For each day, you will be required to turn in a summary of the class reading prior to class. This will encourage you to read the assignment and prepare for discussion. The purpose of our discussions is to carefully take apart, examine, try to understand the readings and, where we can, to make them better. Philosophical readings can be challenging and the point is not to skim them quickly before class, but to try to think through them and with them. Give yourself enough time to do this. Take notes on the reading as you read; try to identify main points, and most importantly, the arguments provided to support those points. Note areas that you don t understand; write down questions and even your feelings as you read. Try to formulate a response to the arguments that you find do you agree, disagree? Completely or partly? I recommending not highlighting in your book at all: underline in pencil, write notes in the margins, and later summarize in outline notes of your own. And always bring your book to class! COURSE CALENDAR DATE TOPIC Aug 28 Watching The Searchers (119 minutes). Plot Summary due before next class (Sept 4). Sept 4 We will discuss Gilmore, Introduction, and Chapter one. Read as well Plato s Apology (available on Moodle). Summary of Chapter One due before class (by 6:00) Sept 11 Watching Vertigo. (128 minutes) (We will schedule a viewing of The Usual Suspects for a separate (optional) night.) Plot summary of each due by next class (Sept 18). Sept 18 We will discuss Gilmore Ch Two. Summary of Chapter Two due before class (by 6:00) Sept 25 Watching Fargo (98 minutes). We will discuss Gilmore Ch. Three this night. Summary of Chapter Three due before class (by 6:00). Plot summary of the movie due by next class (Oct 2). Oct 2 Watching Crimes and Misdemeanors. (104 minutes). Plot summary due Oct 16. Oct 9 Midterm Break Oct 16 We will discuss Gilmore Ch Four. Summary of Chapter Four due before class (by 6:00) Oct 23 Watching 12 Monkeys. (129 Minutes) Please see The Terminator on your own. Plot summaries due by next class (Oct 30) Oct 30 We will discuss Gilmore Ch Five. Summary of Chapter Five due before class (by 6:00) Nov 6 Watching Trainspotting (94 minutes). We will discuss Gilmore Ch Six this night as well. Summary of Chapter Six due before class (by 6:00). Plot summary of the movie due by next class (Nov 13). Nov 13 Watching Night of the Living Dead (96 minutes). We will begin discussing Gilmore Ch Seven. Summary of Chapter Seven due before class (by 6:00). Plot summary of the movie due by next class (Nov 20).

4 Nov 20 Gilmore, Ch Seven and Moral Monsters in Faith, Film and Philosophy. Summary of Moral Monsters due before class (by 6:00). Nov 27 Watching The Matrix (136 Minutes) Plot Summary due by next class (Dec 4) Dec 4 Discussing Gilmore Conclusion and The Sleeper Awakes in Faith, Film and Philosophy. Summary of Chapter Conclusion and The Sleeper Awakes due before class (by 6:00) (two separate summaries) Dec 11 Final Exam Day Disclaimer: The above schedule, policies, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances or by mutual agreement between the instructor and the students. COURSE POLICIES Attendance and tardiness Attendance of itself does not fulfill any of the student learning goals of this course, so consequently, I do not evaluate or grade your attendance in this class. However, regular attendance at class is a college requirement (see College Catalogue, pg 22). I keep attendance regularly and expect to be informed if some legitimate excuse keeps you from attending class. Students missing more than nine class sessions may be asked to drop the class. Tardiness is disruptive to other members of the class, so please be on time! Even if you miss a class, you are still responsible for learning about upcoming work and assignments; check the calendar in moodle or else contact me. Late assignments/make-up work Assignments are considered late if they are turned in after the deadline time set on Moodle. With the exception of the writing summaries, late assignments may be penalized one half a letter grade for every day they are late, depending on the circumstances and at the discretion of the professor. Students having good reasons for missing a deadline or test should contact me in advance of the deadline. Good reasons include documented medical reasons, documented court obligations, and athletic team commitments, family emergencies. Deadlines will be reset to mutually agreed times in these situations. Academic Honesty Carroll College s policy on Academic Integrity is stated in both the CC Catalogue and in the Student Handbook. The policy reads: Students at Carroll College are expected to have high standards of integrity. Any student who cheats or plagiarizes on examinations or assignments, falsifies college records, or fails to give requested academic information on admission documents is subject to dismissal or other appropriate disciplinary action by the College. Students violating the policy will be referred to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Please see these publications for the correct procedures to follow if you have questions concerning the conduct of this class or the grading procedures (other than a final grade). Plagiarism is an act of fraud and will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is both stealing someone else s work and lying about it. It includes the following Turning anyone else s work (including other students ) as your own Copying without giving credit (including copying from the internet) Not putting quotations in quotation marks Incorrectly identifying the source of a quotation Plagiarism also includes copying the sentence structure of a source, even if you changed words, and copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not.

5 All suspected cases of plagiarism will be investigated, and where verified, will be penalized; the penalty can be a severe as immediate failure in the course. If you are unsure about whether some actions constitute plagiarism, please ask me. Campus support services If you believe that you may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, please contact Kevin Hadduck, in order to discuss your specific needs and to determine a reasonable accommodation plan. You may contact Kevin Hadduck in the Academic Success and Disability Services Office, Borromeo Hall, Room 118 (phone: x4504; khadduck@carroll.edu). General Every student must log onto Moodle ASAP (see Students page on Carroll website) and enroll in this course. The moodle site includes copies of this syllabus, and other reading assignments not available in the book store. All written assignments should be submitted on moodle. All assignments will be graded on moodle go there to view your grade and comments from the instructor. The moodle grade book is my grade book for this course; all your grades will be recorded there. (If something is incorrect or missing, you should contact me.) The moodle calendar is the official calendar for the course as well it will include reading assignments as well as other assignments. All students should practice good manners in class and show civility to all. A positive attitude is appreciated and a professional demeanor should be the baseline. This includes such things as remaining alert (and awake!) in class, respecting and never interrupting others, limiting private conversations, and keeping phones and pagers off. In team or group situations, students should cooperate with their team members and obtain their input when working on group exercises and projects. Most group work involves a required peer assessment of each individual s contribution to the group. Absolutely no electronic devices are allowed during exams, and this includes cell phones and laptop. Laptops are allowed at other times during class, with the expectation that you are using them to participate in the class and not as a distraction. Concluding disclaimer The above schedule, policies, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances or by mutual agreement between the instructor and the students. ABOUT YOUR PROFESSOR I am an associate professor in the Philosophy Department. I received a B.A. from Thomas Aquinas College (CA) in 1983; a Ph.D. in 1992, from the University of Notre Dame. I have taught at Notre Dame, Merrimack College (North Andover, MA), North Shore Community College (Danvers & Lynn, MA), Allentown College, (Center Valley, PA), the University of Indiana at South Bend, and Bethell College (Mishawaka, IN). I teach various philosophy courses here at Carroll including Philosophy of Human Nature, Business Ethics, Bioethics, Environmental Ethics, and Medieval Philosophy. My research interests are in Medieval Philosophy, especially the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, and applied ethics. I have given papers/presentations on: Catholic Identity, St. Thomas on God s Omnipotence, End of Life Decision-Making, using technology in the classroom (including Moodle). I ve been married 27 years and have eight kids (including a Carroll grad, class of 2008!) and one grandchild on the way! I am involved in various community organizations in Helena and enjoy visiting historical sites, hiking, photography, building things from time to time (and even house remodeling).