Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing examples of the contribution that philosophy can give:
- to the comprehension of political problems of actuality, when understood as critical thinking,
- to public communication, when understood as rational reasoning.
At the end of the course, students will have to prove that they:
- accurately know the subjects of the program,
- are able to expose them in a consequential and concise way,
- have acquired independent judgement.

Program

Course title: Black Venus, Caliban and other racist masks

Course content: Firstly we will discuss the status of Political Philosophy and we will investigate the origin of some key-concepts (individual, individual rights, representation, State sovereignty) of modern political philosophy in the social contract theory. Secondly, through Franz Fanon, we will analyse how the point of view of racialized subjects allows a radical critique of modern political thought, and we will propose to ‘overtake’ Fanon by the intersection of race, class, gender and sexual orientation.

Throughout the course, the following films and videos will be screened and commented:
- Prospero’s Books, Peter Greenaway, 1991;
- Vénus noire, Abdellatif Kechiche, 2010;
- Formation, Melina Matsoukas, 2016.

Methods: Lectures based on reading and interpretation of the texts, films’ projections, discussions.

Examination Methods

For both attending and non-attending students: written examination (five questions in two hours).
The evaluation will be based on:
- pertinence of the answers,
- consequentiality of the arguments,
- ability to think in a personal and independent way.