Dissertation

Cinema for transformation: Towards a pedagogy of social change

Kashani, Tony

2007

Overview

Human society has to undergo a transformation, one that brings about democracy, cosmopolitanism, egalitarianism, and harmony with nature. There are various entities that can assist humanity to transform. This inquiry asked whether cinema could be a vehicle for such transformation. A transdisciplinary approach was taken to find the connecting elements within cinema and ways in which complexity shapes and evolves cinema. Moreover, the inquiry investigated an alternative pedagogical terrain in teaching cinema for social change. Although anchored in critical theory, in transdisciplinary fashion, the dissertation engaged various other theories (e.g., the works of Morin, Montuori, and others) to generate a discourse on cinema as a vehicle for societal transformation. A number of specific films were examined as case studies, and many more films were also discussed in relation to the theories considered. The dissertation concluded that cinema of good faith can help us gain an understanding and an appreciation of our differences and our similarities. Additionally, a critical pedagogy of cinema can teach against cinema of bad faith and help to bring people towards multiculturalism. With its universal language, cinema can help us respect our differences while sharing common values, goals, and aspirations. Ultimately, humanity must move away from using the logic of the marketplace as logic of common sense, embrace planetary thinking, and understand complexity to build a global society with vitality and cultural richness. Cinema can indeed be an agent to usher in such transformation.

• Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• Subject: Education philosophy / Educational philosophy / Film studies / Motion pictures / Social structure
• ISBN: 9780549132028, 0549132023