PHIL 102

Ethics, Politics, & Law

Movie Portfolio Assignments

You must write six short (300-500 word) movie discussions that are due in single electronically submitted portfolio.  The topics for the individual movies are found below.

13 Conversations About One Thing

What is the one thing that the thirteen conversations in the movie were about?

Far From Heaven

Why do you suppose that a gay, white film maker would choose to make a film that's pretty clearly about prejudice which focuses on race and a heterosexual romance?

Absence of Malice

I think that Michael Gallagher clearly had his privacy violated.  What do you think he really cared about?  How does your answer here fit into our discussion in class about the nature and value of privacy?

Philadelphia

Was Andy asking the court for "special rights" because he was gay, or simply the rights that anyone should expect?  What do you think of the common charge that gays want special rights?

To Kill a Mockingbird

How in the world could that jury have possibly returned the verdict that it did?

Do the Right Thing

Did Mookie do the right thing?

The Thin Blue Line

How could the Randal Adams case be utilized as one further "contingent reality" in my case against the death penalty.

Dead Man Walking

Is Dead Man Walking a pro-capital punishment movie, or anti?  Justify your answer.