Published: Monday, November 3, 2008
Film fest probes philosophical issues
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.
The schedule is:
6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 with Joel Martinez of Lewis and Clark College of Portland, Ore., discussing ethics using the 1989 Woody Allen film "Crimes and Misdemeanors" with its similarities to Fyodor Dostoevky's "Crime and Punishment."
6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18 with Olly Phillips, a professor emeritus from Whitman College, lecturing on truth and justification as depicted in the 1957 Sidney Lumet film "12 Angry Men."
6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 19 with EvCC instructor Jeffrey Hipolito addressing issues of postmodernism with the help of a 2006 Marc Forster film, "Stranger Than Fiction."
3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 21 with Helen Harrison, a Central Washington University professor, investigating the mind and time travel using the 1995 Terry Gilliam film "Twelve Monkeys."
3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 22 with University of British Columbia professor Anita Ho discussing "human identity and determinism" in Andrew Niccol's futuristic 1997 film "Gattaca."
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or e-mail stevick@heraldnet.com.
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.
The schedule is:
6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 with Joel Martinez of Lewis and Clark College of Portland, Ore., discussing ethics using the 1989 Woody Allen film "Crimes and Misdemeanors" with its similarities to Fyodor Dostoevky's "Crime and Punishment."
6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18 with Olly Phillips, a professor emeritus from Whitman College, lecturing on truth and justification as depicted in the 1957 Sidney Lumet film "12 Angry Men."
6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 19 with EvCC instructor Jeffrey Hipolito addressing issues of postmodernism with the help of a 2006 Marc Forster film, "Stranger Than Fiction."
3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 21 with Helen Harrison, a Central Washington University professor, investigating the mind and time travel using the 1995 Terry Gilliam film "Twelve Monkeys."
3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 22 with University of British Columbia professor Anita Ho discussing "human identity and determinism" in Andrew Niccol's futuristic 1997 film "Gattaca."
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or e-mail stevick@heraldnet.com.
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