Topic outline

  • General

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    • ME33FP Film as a Public Ethical Arena

      Credits:15

        Places: 30


      FACE TO FACE ON CAMPUS ATTENDANCE REQUIRED IN ABERDEEN

      This course will help students excavate and clarify their own moral beliefs by way of engagement with a wide range of cinematic depictions of our contemporary world. Exploring questions of economic ethics, political ethics as well as our relationships with disabled people, animals and the environment (and much more), students will be given the opportunity to develop and present their own views in classroom debates which will be complimented by lectures clarifying the importance of engaging such questions as active citizens. The basis of this course is an understanding of film as a unique medium for bringing the moral questions of our contemporary world into better view. This course will study various aspects of film production in order to give students a better grasp of how moral issues in the contemporary world can be introduced in cinematic form, as well as teaching students that filmmaking (especially documentary making) is a form of active citizenship which invites and provokes active citizenship from viewers.


      Course Coordinator: Brian Brock b.brock@abdn.ac.uk

  • What skills does this course develop?

    • Core Skills

      By the end of this course, students will be able to:

      • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the methodological study of film
      • Critically discuss films in terms of ethical categories which apply to their own lives
      • Critically appraise various aspects of film production

  • What will the timetable be like?

    • The course meets 3 hours per week, in one session

  • How will I be assessed?

    • Assessment: Assessment will be 100% continuous assessment. Students will turn in five 400-500 word response papers in the course of the term

  • What did previous students think about this course?

    • 'It was really interesting and completely different to anything I have ever done before. It was good to be integrated into a non-medic class as discussion was a lot broader and more opinions were explored. From the point of view of improving myself, it was great and really helped me become more reflective and considerate of ethical issues. I enjoyed being able to explore issues that weren't necessarily medically related and the debating afterwards allowed you to consider things in more depth and open your mind to other points of view as well as develop my confidence in presenting my thoughts and summarising other opinions.'

      Video Student View 16-17

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