CSP 63 Philosophy and Film: Between Moscow and Berlin

Wedged between the imperial cultures of Russia and the West, Eastern Europe,  it has been argued, was constructed during the Enlightenment as a mere complement to the dominant cultures of Western Europe. It has thus always been a land "between," a domain of ambiguity, paradox, and nonsense (in the terminology of philosopher Gilles Deleuze, a minor place). Yet as we shall see in this course, it is precisely for this reason that Eastern Europe has proved to be such a rich soil for both philosophy and the arts, and most especially film. Those who are labeled or identify themselves as Eastern European find themselves at an epistemological advantage with respect to the imperial cultures that border upon them, an advantage that allows them to bring into being new ideas, new images, and new kinds of selves. In this course we will therefore discuss key philosophical and cinematic works from Ukraine, Poland, Russia, Serbia, and other “Eastern European” countries, all of which will introduce us to new ways of thinking about the world. Students will additionally have the opportunity to visit several cultural venues in Los Angeles that relate to Eastern European film, culture, and thought.