“Philosophy Through Film”: An Inside Look at a General Education Course at Queens 

While many college students spend their early undergraduate years taking basic general education courses, Queens students earn their general education credits by exploring the intersection of various academic disciplines as part of Learning Communities. This semester, Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Eric Mullis, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor in the Knight School of Communication Joe Cornelius, MFA, partnered to teach a course titled “Philosophy Through Film” to a sophomore Learning Community. 

“Learning Communities offer opportunities for faculty members working in different fields to collaborate,” Mullis explained. “In turn, this models ways the same subject matter can be viewed through different lenses. In the Learning Community Dr. Cornelius and I offer, students can learn both how to think deeply and critically about film and how to script, direct, shoot, and edit pieces of their own.” 

Throughout the semester, students learned key ideas about the history of philosophy by watching and discussing thought-provoking films such as Christopher Nolan’s “Memento” (2000), Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” (2022), and Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” (1982). Simultaneously, they were taught the building blocks of the filmmaking process in preparation for their final assignment. 

“We had about 3 months, so we kept it simple by breaking the process up into three different components: preproduction, the production itself, and postproduction,” Cornelius said. “We had a lot of fun. The students were super engaged and had a thirst for knowledge which led them to create very impressive final projects.” 

To round out the semester, students were tasked with conceptualizing and creating a film of their own based on various themes. They could elect to write and direct or act as the tech crew for their final project. Many students decided to cast peers in their films and utilized the Queens campus for filming. Thanks to the generosity of the Independent Picture House in the NoDa neighborhood of Charlotte, students and community members were invited to premiere their final projects on the big screen.  

Nursing student Natalie Ealy ‘26 decided to take the class because it was unlike any of her coursework for her major. 

“I thrive in academic settings that offer practical applications,” she said. “Being able to take the content that is taught in class and immediately use it to accomplish something is very fulfilling. This class taught me philosophical theories and techniques that I was able to use and apply right away.” 

After thanking the Independent Picture House for hosting the premiere, Mullis noted how impactful this opportunity was for students. 

“It is so special for students to be able to show and debut their projects on the big screen,” he said. “There is something to be said for gathering as a community to celebrate what we have collectively accomplished.”