Marriage, Seduction and Sex in Film-Philosophy module (PI31021)

In this module, we will embark on a transformative journey where celluloid meets philosophy, and where the silver screen becomes a portal to profound philosophical inquiry.

We'll unravel how films influence philosophical concepts surrounding love, sex, and marriage.

At the heart of our discussions lies the influential work of Stanley Cavell, whose ground-breaking insights into the intersection of film and philosophy will serve as our guiding star.

We’ll begin our exploration with classic works such as Bringing Up Baby or The Awful Truth that Cavell has termed ‘comedies of remarriage’. We will also explore their negative counterpart, what he calls the genre of ‘melodramas of the unknown woman’, which includes such films as Gaslight or Now, Voyager.

You will also get the chance to explore more contemporary works, such as the ‘San Junipero’ episode of Black Mirror.

Cavell's work in this area will then be contrasted with the contemporary feminist philosopher Clare Chambers, who argues that we should abolish marriage.

Finally, we'll also explore other perspectives, such as Michel Foucault’s genealogy of the desiring subject in his recently published Confessions of the Flesh.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• acquaintance yourself with major developments in film-philosophy, be it in the formation of new genres, or the very nature of film
• examine major topics within feminism (both in and outside of film studies)
• become familiar with some of the central theories and arguments concerning the role of marriage in society
• approach film as an important source for philosophy, not only in its ability to provide new images for philosophy, but in its ability to create new philosophical concepts, or revive traditional ones

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• deploy sophisticated techniques in the philosophical interpretation of films
• critically assess key concepts drawn from film-philosophy
• understand and differentiate views on central issues in feminism, as well as how to offer relevant support for, and critical responses to, those views
• analyse and engage with complex ethical and political positions arising from marriage and sex
• write philosophically inflected film criticism

Assignments / assessment

• film commentary 1,500 words (35%)
• essay 3,500 words (65%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

You will learn by taking a hands-on approach. This will involve taking part and speaking in tutorials, and doing some practical activies, such as a scene sequence analysis, analysing the philosophical import of, say, a shot angle or how a performer delivers a line.