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(Film, Art, Literature and
Philosophy Club)
Planned weekly
discussions over films, aesthetics, social and ethical themes - we will spend 2 weeks on each
theme.
Please note: An
intermediate level of English is required (the goal is to feel relaxed and practice speaking
English over thought-provoking topics).
For high school
and university students and adults-in-general.
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Time:
Wednesdays (ongoing ... join
in at any time).
20.30-22.00
Fee: 1000 RSD / 1.5 hr session
Please enroll before coming via email or telephone in advance.
Email: john.russey@handsonbelgrade.org
Phone: 065 465 4966
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"Avatar: The Way of Water"
We'll talk about film genre, special effects and symbolism in film
A discussion of film Genre: based on similarities in either the narrative elements, aesthetic approaches, or emotional response to the film.
Symbolism -- meaning, mythology, propaganda, ...
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"Night Watch"
A discussion of Art and Society
We will approach the painting Nightwatch with excerpts from these two films:
"Rembrandt's
J'Accuse" (2008)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1303889/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
"[The director] Greenaway leads us through Rembrandt's paintings into seventeenth-century Amsterdam.
He paints a world that is democratic in principle, but is almost entirely ruled by twelve families.
The notion exists of these regents as charitable and compassionate entities.
However, reality was different."
-- including a discussion of Émile Zola's J'Accuse
and
Nightwatching (2007)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446750/?ref_=tt_rec_tt
-- wherein Rembrandt identifies a murderer in the painting and the intrigue, drama and controversy surrounding this.
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"The Matrix"
A look at Singularity and Transhumanism
QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS:
1) What is
Singularity? Is this a "good" thing?
2) What are the
thoughts/worries of the physicist Stephan Hawking and entrepreneur Elon Musk?
3) Should we
trust
"Scientists" to tell us what we should do in the future (i.e., Genetically Manipulated Organisms (GMOs), Transhumanism, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs))?
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"Antwone Fisher"
On Racism and Identity
Ideas to discuss include: the concepts of identity and difference.
What does it mean to have a "race"? A "nationality"? An "ethnic identity"?
How do we distinguish who will fit in to these categories?
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"1984"
Ethical questions over government
Ideas to discuss:
1. Do we need government? Why? Why not?
2. What kind of powers should a government have (if any)?
3. What is freedom?
a. Can you have freedom if you have to obey laws?
4. Do we need laws?
a. If so, how far should they go to limit our freedom?
b. Who should make the laws, and how should they be determined?
c. Should corporations and wealthy individuals decide what laws should be, and have a big say in who will
be "elected"?
5. What about the media? Should there be freedom of expression? Freedom of the Press?
a. What happens if there is a monopoly on media outlets?
b. Do you think censorship is necessary?
6. What about a judicial system: should it be separated from the executive and
legislative powers of government?
a. What ensures that judgments in a court system are unbiased?
b. Should courts/judges be unbiased in their decisions-verdicts?
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