English

This course introduces students to philosophical thinking and some of the classic philosophical questions as they are exemplified in films and television series such as THE MATRIX, BLADE RUNNER, CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, BREAKING BAD, LOUIS CK, BLACK MIRROR, and others. The films serve as “triggers” for philosophical inquiry into topics such as morality, faith, knowledge, mind, meaning, interpretation, and the human condition accompanied by philosophical text and commentaries. The course also examines the question of the relation between film and philosophy and the possible contribution that each field could have for the other.

This course provides an overview of working in the United Kingdom and of the current economic situation in the country. It further discusses how the economic situation affects the workplace, how students can integrate into British working life, and how they can make the most of their internship placements. Topics include current political and economic climate, national legal framework, structure and workflow, integration of immigrants into the workforce, discrimination in the workplace, and comparison between U.K. and U.S. work experiences.

The course examines magical belief and supernatural entities in Scotland. This complex and much-neglected aspect of our cultural heritage is explored through a combination of empirical data (provided by case studies and archive holdings) and theoretical contextualization. A dominant theme is the identification and interpretation of vestiges of supernatural belief still extant and deeply embedded in Scottish cultural life. Comparative material from other Celtic-language cultures and Scandinavia also feature.