Continuing Education

136 West 21st Street

From its earliest days, cinema has possessed a unique ability to engage with and represent philosophical ideas; simultaneously, philosophy has used cinema to question and expand its own boundaries. This course will explore the profound interplay between philosophical thought and cinematic expression, examining how each informs and transforms the other, and revealing how they together shape our understanding of the world and ourselves. Each week, students will watch one film and read a selection of philosophical texts, fostering a dialogue between cinematic works and philosophical ideas. We will engage with texts by philosophers including Aristotle, Jean Baudrillard and Frantz Fanon, and analyze various films including those by Ingmar Bergman, Agnès Varda and Pier Paolo Pasolini. Through an examination of essential texts on aesthetics and film theory, alongside watching films from various genres, we will lay the groundwork for understanding how cinema can be both a subject of and a vehicle for philosophical exploration, alongside the ways in which philosophical inquiry has been at the core of the development of so much of the history of cinema. By examining these themes, we will use philosophy to deepen our understanding of cinema, while also considering how cinematic techniques and narratives influence philosophical thought. No prior knowledge of philosophy or film studies is required.
Note: This course is held on campus at SVA.