User:PhilosophyInTheDark/Philosophy in the Dark Film Festival

The World's FIRST Philosophical Film Festival!

"Philosophy in the Dark" Film Festival was presented by The Humanities Center at Everett Community College, the Everett Public Library, and Humanities Washington during November 17-22, 2008 at the Everett Public Library at 2702 Hoyt Avenue, Everett. The event was free and open to the public with no required reservations. A select group of Hollywood classics which brought to life important philosophical issues were discussed by philosophers from around the Northwest.

The line-up included:

Monday November 17th from 6:00-9:00 Ethics Dr. Joel Martinez of Lewis and Clark College (Portland, OR) discussed ethics using the 1989 Woody Allen film with disturbing similarities to Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment.” Ethical systems are personified in the film, which has two plot lines, one with Allen playing a documentary filmmaker, and the other featuring Martin Landau as a successful ophthalmologist trying to get away with murder.

Tuesday November 18th from 6:00-9:00 Truth and Justification Dr. Holly Phillips Emeritus Professor of Whitman College (Walla Walla, WA) lectured on truth and justification as depicted in the first film directed by Sidney Lumet. The film, considered a classic, stars Henry Fonda as one of a dozen men sequestered in a sweltering room with the clock ticking and a life or death decision to make.

Wednesday November 19th from 6:00-9:00 Postmodernism Dr. Jeffrey Hipolito of Everett Community College addressed issues in postmodernism with the help of the 2006 Marc Forster film starring Emma Thompson as a writer in a slump and an earnest Will Ferrell playing an IRS agent whose routine is upset when he begins hearing a voice narrating his life.

Friday November 21st from 3:00-6: The Future is in the Past Helen Harrison of Central Washington University investigated the mind and time travel using the 1995 Terry Gilliam film starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. The film features Willis traveling between a future where the earth has become uninhabitable for humans and the past where he looks for the key to what happened. Pitt plays a wealthy activist gone haywire.

Saturday November 22nd from 3:00-6: Human Identity and Determinism Dr. Anita Ho of the University of British Columbia discussed human identity and determinism as seen in Andrew Niccol’s futuristic 1997 film starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law. In this film, genetics force Ethan Hawke to go to any length for the right genes because his society severely limits those who carry the wrong ones.

For more information, contact Mike VanQuickenborne

A review published in the Everett Herald titled “Film fest probes philosophical issues” By Eric Stevick Herald Writer states “As a college philosophy instructor, Mike VanQuickenborne is part of a pretty small professional fraternity. That doesn't mean philosophy can't be enjoyed by the masses. The Everett Community College instructor knows that people like to share deep thoughts when they discuss the inner meanings of movies. That's why he is organizing Philosophy in the Dark, a film festival he hopes will be "an engaging and informative approach to some of the fundamental questions philosophers wonder about." The event, set for later this month, includes five movies shown over six days in the downstairs auditorium at the main branch of the Everett Public Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave. It's free to the public. "So far, as I've been able to determine, it will be the world's first philosophical film festival," VanQuickenborne said. The EvCC humanities center is working with the Everett library to stage the event. Money for the festival comes from a $3,756 grant from Humanities Washington, a statewide nonprofit organization and public foundation that supports cultural and educational programs. "I really think it will appeal to people who like to analyze film," VanQuickenborne said. The festival has lined up college and university instructors and professors to lead movie-based discussions on several subjects."