Call for Papers
Extended Deadline!
Faith, Film and Philosophy
“Surrogates, Avatars, and Zombies:
Film, Faith, & The Human Prospect”
October 8th & October 9th, 2010
Gonzaga University’s Faith and Reason Institute and Whitworth University’s Weyerhaeuser
Center for Faith and Learning are pleased to announce their Fourth Annual Seminar on Faith,
Film and Philosophy, entitled “Surrogates, Avatars, and Zombies: Film, Faith, & The Human
Prospect.” This year’s seminar theme takes its inspiration from the spate of recent films that offer
visions of the human future. A list of these films from just the year 2009 would include such
obvious choices as Surrogates, Avatar, Zombieland, Gamer, Star Trek, Knowing, Terminator
Salvation, 9, Moon, 2012, District 9 and even Ponyo.
But films that address the human prospect are not limited to those dealing with future apocalypses,
utopias or dystopias. There are films that explore the permanent possibilities of human nature and
thereby explore the strengths and weaknesses that we bring to the future. In this sense, films such
as Up, The Wrestler, The Hurt Locker, Up In the Air, and The Hangover have just as much to tell
us about the human prospect as does any film that openly attempts to address the human future as
such.
Thus, any film, insofar as it gives us a way of thinking about our future as individuals, as members
of a particular society, or as a species, addresses itself to the human prospect.
We do ask that writers plan to deal with popular films from the last 20 years, although the
committee will consider exceptions to this 20-year rule.
Seminar sessions will take place on Friday (October 8th) and Saturday (October 9th). Public
lectures associated with the seminar will be given on the evenings of 6-8 October 2010.
Possible topics for seminar papers include the following, though proposals on other topics or
questions concerning human transformation are certainly welcome and encouraged.
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What does film tell us about the significance of our urge (fantasy?) to become something
other than human?
What is the significance of our anxieties about the future?
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What are the prospects for successful transformation of human prospects through political
action.
How technologically driven life-styles alter or foreclose or encourage human development.
How does knowledge of our real pasts impinge on our prospects for successful futures?
Can we know the necessary and/or sufficient conditions for successful human prospects?
What are those conditions? (The Book of Eli, e.g.)
Almost all of the above in the light of faith.
What specific anxieties about human nature and its prospects underlie the concepts of
vampire and/or zombie?
Are “surrogates” persons? Why or why not?
Many apocalyptic films end positively. What does this tell us? Is this plausible? Why or
why not?
Compare current popular apocalyptic films with ancient apocalyptic literature(s).
Role of the apocalyptic prophet in current films (Eli, once again, e.g., as also Knowing).
Limits of science and/or technology for enhancing the human prospect.
Power of science and/or technology for enhancing the human prospect.
Is religion, considered very broadly, generally likely to enhance or degrade the human
prospect?
Aliens, angels, God, providence, etc., in future-oriented utopias and/or dystopias.
The human capacity for violence and our love of it (Hurt Locker, etc.).
The human capacity for cooperation and its role in enhancing the human prospect.
Proposals not longer than one page (double-spaced), and in Word format, should be submitted
electronically to the attention of Margaret Rankin at faithandreason@gonzaga.edu no later than 15
July 2010, and should include title, author(s), institutional association (if any), mailing address,
email address, and the text of proposal. The seminar organizers will send acceptances by 31 July
2010.
The seminar and its associated public lectures are part of a series of jointly-sponsored programs
focused on “Faith, Reason and Popular Culture.” The conviction behind these programs is that if
Christian institutions of higher learning are to respond properly to their charge to be places where
faith seeks understanding, then they must engage contemporary popular culture. Film is among the
most powerful and important forms of popular culture. Thus, the seminar organizers seek scholars
who will engage in two days of discussion investigating issues of faith and philosophical import
raised by contemporary popular film. Presenters need not have any formal academic appointment.
For further information: Margaret Rankin, Program Coordinator, Gonzaga University Faith and
Reason Institute at faithandreason@gonzaga.edu or Dr. Brian Clayton, Director, Gonzaga
University Faith and Reason Institute at clayton@gem.gonzaga.edu.
[Please note: The Institute website is currently unavailable. When the website, with its new
address, is back up and running, the Institute will send out an email notification to all who are on
our mailing list.]