Embedded Files
Exotic Journeys: A Tourist's Guide to Philosophy
brought to you by Ron Yezzi
Emeritus Professor of Philosophy
Minnesota State University, Mankato
© Copyright 2015, 2020 by Ron Yezzi
Reflections
A Philosophical Look at Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"
(First Presentation at Old Main Village Senior Living Community during the Christmas season, 2003. I used the 1984 film of "A Christmas Carol," with George C. Scott as Scrooge, for the presentation.)
A Philosophical Look at Frank Capra's, "It's a Wonderful Life"
(First Presentation at Old Main Village Senior Living Community during the Christmas season, 2003.)
Study Guides
Gone Baby Gone - a harrowing story about child abduction and the response to it.
Subject: child abduction, laws, and law enforcement
North Country - a story about the treatment of women workers at a mine on the Iron Range in northern Minnesota and the court case that followed.
Subject: women and sexual harassment in the workplace
Million Dollar Baby – a story about a 31-year old woman with a burning determination to be a professional boxer and what then happens with her during her career.
Subject: euthanasia, boxing
Crash – a rather depressing account of the state of racial and ethnic relations in the United States.
Subject: race relations in U.S.
The Insider – the true story of Jeffrey Wigand, who has been fired by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co., after he served as Director of Research and Development and Corporate Vice-President. He has inside information about the company’s operations.
Subject: tobacco industry
Dead Man Walking – a story about the relationship between a Catholic nun, Sister Helen Prejean, and a convicted murderer Matthew Poncelet, who is executed. The film deals with the issue of capital punishment.
Subject: capital punishment
Quiz Show – a story about cheating that occurred in association with a popular TV quiz show, Twenty One, during the 1950s.
Subject: cheating
Thelma and Louise – a story about the relationship between two women who draw closer together the more they find their lives being affected in harmful ways by men. The film includes a lot of humor and adventure; but it is very definitely a feminist statement about men.
Subject: relations between women and men, feminism
Crimes and Misdemeanors – a story about a successful, well-respected opthalmologist who has a woman murdered when she threatens to expose him (a) for having had an affair with her and (b) for engaging in some shady financial transfers. The story presents a series of moral dilemmas.
Subject: adultery and murder
The Accused – a story about a young woman forced to have sex with three men in a bar, while a number of other men present clap and cheer the three on. Questions about the woman’s moral character and actions complicate the situation.
Subject: gang rape
Wall Street – a story about the stock market and insider trading during the 1980s.
Subject: financial markets
Platoon – a story about a platoon of soldiers during the Vietnam War. It is unlikely that any one platoon experienced all the events depicted in the movie. On the other hand, the events described are similar to actual events experienced by U. S. Soldiers in Vietnam at some time or other.
Subject: war
Ragtime – a story set at the start of the twentieth century in the U.S. Various cases of injustice arise, including racism; and there are terrorist incidents that arise. Pride and responsibility also become issues in the film.
Subject: racism and terrorism
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