Faith, Film and Philosophy
October 31st – November 1st, 2008
Gonzaga University’s Faith and Reason Institute and Whitworth University’s Weyerhaeuser Center for Faith and Learning are pleased to announce their second annual seminar on “Faith, Film and Philosophy.” The seminar and its associated public lectures are part of a series of jointly-sponsored programs focused on “Faith, Reason and Popular Culture.” The conviction behind these programs is that Christian institutions of higher learning must engage popular culture if they are to respond properly to their charge to be places where faith seeks understanding. Because film is among the most powerful forms of popular culture, the seminar organizers seek scholars who will engage in two days of discussion investigating issues of faith and general philosophical import raised by contemporary popular film. Presenters need not have any formal academic appointment.
Seminar sessions will take place on Friday (October 31st) and Saturday (November 1st). Public lectures will be given on Wednesday (October 29th [tentative]), Thursday (October 30th), and Friday (October 31st). Featured public speakers and seminar participants: Carl Plantinga (Calvin College), Doug Geivett (Biola University), and Michael Foley (Baylor University).
Possible topics for seminar papers include the following, though proposals on other topics, questions, or specific popular films are welcome and encouraged:
• Character, narrative and religious belief in recent films.
• Faith and morals in recent films.
• Cognitive uses of fantasy and film.
• Depictions of God in recent films.
• Depictions of the religious life in recent films.
• Naturalism and supernaturalism in recent films.
• The dream-film analogy (on which see C. McGinn, The Power of Movies).
• Faith and fantasy.
• Fantasy and emotions in films (of particular genres or generally).
• Magical illusion and morals in recent films (e.g. The Prestige, The Illusionist).
• Possible world metaphysics and films.
• Science fiction, fantasy and emotions.
• The uses of silence in recent films.
• Modal concepts and modal thinking in films.
• Animated films, fantasies and cognition.
• Psychoanalytic notions of fantasy and film.
• Popular films by particular directors and any of the above topics.
Proposals not longer than one page (double-spaced), and in Word format, should be submitted electronically to the attention of Margaret Rankin at faithandreason@gonzaga.edu no later than April 4, 2008, and should include title, author(s), institutional association (if any), mailing address, email address, and the text of proposal. The seminar organizers will send acceptances by May 2, 2008.
For further information consult www.gonzagafaithreason.org