Cinephilia and Philosophy

ENGL 304-90 - Prof. Younger

This course offers a free-ranging exploration through a series of philosophical texts and films designed to challenge us and provoke creative thought, open-ended discussion, and poetic critical writing. The course will be conducted as an advanced seminar; some prior background in either philosophy or film studies is strongly recommended, and a serious commitment to the common cinephilosophical endeavor is required. For English majors, this course satisfies the requirement of a course emphasizing critical reflection.

Readings.

You will find the following two required texts at the Trinity Bookstore listed under the course number in the spring but are also encouraged to purchase inexpensive used editions online over the winter break if you wish. Additional required readings will be posted on Moodle.

Plato, Reeve, ed. Plato on Love (Lysis, Symposium, Phaedrus, Alcibiades, Selections from Republic and Laws).

The Bhagavad-Gita: Krishna’s Counsel in Time of War (trans. Barbara Stoler Miller).