M2A1: Mini Essay

This assignment gives you the opportunity to explore ethical perspectives in film. In 500-600 words, please consider the three primary ethical schools we have explored in the class: virtue ethics, teleological, and deontological ethics. Choose a film, and then identify the primary school of thought that is best reflected in the film. This activity aligns with module outcomes 1, 3 and 5.

CONTENT REQUIREMENTS:

• Specifically refer to at least two scenes in the film as evidence for the school of thought that is best reflected in the film.
• Quote dialogue from the film and provide some context for the scenes you’re discussing and analyzing.
• Remember to discuss why the other two schools may not strictly apply to the film. Or perhaps you can argue that the two other schools are present in some of the decisions or actions of some minor characters, but they do not necessarily dominate the film.
• Speculate as to why a specific ethical school dominates this film. Does the topic lend itself to the particular ethical view? Does the setting or historical period of the film lend itself to a certain ethical view? Has the director stated or implied what was ethically important when he or she made the film?
• Read and quote from 2 movie reviews and your readings to help clarify or support any of your ideas.

WRITING REQUIREMENTS:

• Develop an interesting introduction which includes an evident thesis.
• Logically organize your ideas, ensuring that there are transitions between each paragraph.
• Use proper grammar and syntax
• Use detail, dialogue, and description to support your ideas.
• Use direct quotations from the movie review and your readings, using APA citation style

M2D2: Popcorn and Principles

Discussion Question

Prepare for this discussion by completing your readings and viewings. Then respond to the following:

• Identify a film that best reflects at least three of your own categorical imperatives. Be specific about how the film demonstrates your beliefs. Why is it important for you and others in your life to adhere to those categorical imperatives you listed? Why is it important in the film that those imperatives were followed?Include a clip, if you can.
• Please share with your classmates the film you chose for your Module 2 Mini Essay. Speculate how the film may or may not align with your own preferred ethical stance or theory.

M3A1 Critical Analysis Project: Sculpture

From the following choices, select one sculpture. Evaluate the sculpture using the critical analysis example at the conclusion of Chapter 3 as a guide. You will need to do some research on the piece you choose in order to give the historical background, artist (if known), context, technique, etc. You will also want to refer to Chapter 3 and the accompanying PowerPoint for the technical terms and concepts necessary in the analysis. Be sure to include all points of the outline (minimum one full page in length). Choose one of the following for this assignment:

• Pieta (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. by Michelangelo Buonarroti
  Context of Pieta, Rome: St Peter Basilica light streams (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.Trajan addressing his troops (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Aldocutio) by Apollodorus of Damascus:
  Context of Trajan’s Column (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., Rome
• The Spoils of Jerusalem (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (from Arch of Titus)
• Context of Arch of Titus (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., Rome
• Terracotta soldier: Soldier Horse (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• Context of soldier, Lintong District, Xi’an, China: 1 terracotta army 2011 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Click here to see the sculptures before you visit the web pages. Be sure to include a convincing, inclusive conclusion at the end of your critical analysis and a bibliography of at least two sources that you used to prepare your analysis, one of which may be the class text. Do not use and cite Wikipedia. Instead, visit the Excelsior College Library to learn about academic sources. The page on Evaluating Information Evaluating Information (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.includes helpful sections on “Print vs. Web Resources,” Evaluation Criteria,” Evaluation Scenarios,” and “Media Literacy.”

Write a 500-750 word critical analysis.

M4A1 Critical Analysis Project: Architecture

Everyone has seen examples of buildings which may serve a functional purpose, but which are either aesthetically unpleasing or simply do not fit the surrounding environment. Such a building may be called an “eye sore,” a “folly,” a “boondoggle,” or just plain “ugly.” Frank Lloyd Wright and his mentor, Louis Sullivan, were among Twentieth Century architects who held the philosophy that buildings should reflect and enhance their environment. This activity will enable you to evaluate an example of architecture as a work of art and see its contribution to the human experience.

View Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater at HOUSE FOUR: The House on a Waterfall—Fallingwater, Edgar J. Kaufmann House, Mill Run, Pennsylvania. 1935–37 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [PDF file size 352 KB]. From the photos and other information presented on this page and from other sources you may find, evaluate the work using the critical analysis example at the conclusion of Chapter 4 as a guide. You will also want to refer to Chapter 4 and the accompanying PowerPoint for the technical terms and concepts necessary for the analysis. Be sure to include all points of the outline (minimum one full page in length).

Be sure to include a convincing, inclusive conclusion at the end of your critical analysis and a bibliography of at least two sources that you used to prepare your analysis, one of which may be the class text. Do not use and cite Wikipedia. Instead, visit the Excelsior College Library to learn about academic sources. The page on Evaluating Information Evaluating Information (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. includes helpful sections on “Print vs. Web Resources,” Evaluation Criteria,” Evaluation Scenarios,” and “Media Literacy.”

Write a 500-750 word critical analysis.

M4D1: Comparison Exercise

Please review the assigned pieces of architecture by visiting these sites:

• The Pantheon (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• Stourhead Garden (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• Monticello (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

For this discussion, write a 250-500 word post comparing and contrasting the three examples of architecture. There should be a paragraph for each of the examples and a fourth paragraph, comparing the obvious similarities as well as pointing out the contrasts and unique features.

M4A1: Midterm PowerPoint

Content Requirements:

1. Choose one pop-culture hero, superhero or villain, and identify one ethical issue this figure typically has to tackle.
2. Then explain how your pop figure might solve the same ethical issue from at least 6 different ethical theories we have covered thus far. Make sure your ethical issue or problem is complicated enough for you to apply each ethical theory and to allow enough detailed analysis of the issue.Be sure to draw upon six of the nine theories we have covered thus far:
3. Relativism
4. Virtue Ethics
5. Utilitarianism (Consequentialism, Teleology)
6. Kantian Ethics (Deontology)
7. Feminist Ethics
8. Care Ethics
9. Egoism
10. Nihilism
11. Postmodernism
12. Imagine and include what might be the actions, thoughts, or words the superhero could perform or utter from each particular ethical stance. Every slide should have a specific quote from the hero/heroine and an explanation of how this relates to the corresponding theory.
13. What might be the consequences or aftermath of acting from each particular stance for your chosen pop figure? Don’t forget to include this, along with a variety of unique and colorful graphics for each slide.
14. Citations and References: You should have citations on every slide (Author, Date) for the definition of each theory, for your quotes, and also a reference slide at the end.

For example, you might choose the topic of whether a superwomen should kill villains. We had discussed in Module 2 how most superheroes/heroines are deontologists, and almost never opt to break their moral code, regardless of the consequences. In the comic book story of Wonder Woman, although she is usually a deontologist, she does kill the villain Max Lord, essentially undermining the classic superhero/heroine approach of merely apprehending a villain. You would then identify 6 different ethical theories and analyze how the issue of killing villains would play out given each theory.

Writing and Presentation Reminders:

• Create a minimum of a ten-slide PowerPoint with colorful graphics and easy-to-read font on each slide.
• Logically organize your ideas (you should first identify how the figure typically responds to the issue and what ethical theory typically dominates this figure’s reactions.
• Ensure that the analysis and description of each of the various ethical theories are accurate.
• Include one direct, substantial quotation from each our readings for each of the different ethical theories you’re explaining.
• Be sure to include an APA reference page at the end.

M4D1: Me, Myself, and You

• To what extent do you believe our opportunity for creating meaningful, ethical action in the world lies more with the modernist perspective, such as Descartes and Kant (i.e. divine command theory, deontology, etc.), or the postmodern philosophies of Michel Foucault, Mike Ventimiglia and bell hooks? Please offer a specific example of how your chosen approach can serve to create a more ethically ideal world.
• Please describe the ways in which some of today’s music reflects each of the three philosophies: ethical egoism, nihilism, and postmodernism. Please share links to music videos to illustrate your point. Be sure to reference specific lyrics in your posts.