Computers and robots have played a significant role in movie history, occupying pivotal roles in both critically and commercially successful films. Very often the role of computers and robots in these films is influenced by what is occurring in society and this course will examine how philosophical, historical, socio-economic, and psychological factors impact the portrayal of these human artifacts and what this says about us and society. It will also analyze the accuracy of these portrayals from a computer science perspective and discuss the relevant computer science concepts. Readings will be assigned to provide insight into the films and to introduce interdisciplinary perspectives. This course, and the associated readings, will especially focus on perspectives from Computer Science, philosophy, and film and media studies.
The course will focus on a number of key questions and will analyze these questions from multiple perspectives. Some of the questions that will be addressed include:
- What does it mean to be human? What is the role of humans in our increasingly technological world? Are we becoming unnecessary? Can robots be "human?" What is the nature of reality? What does philosophy say about these questions? How are our fears and insecurities (economic, social, and psychological) reflected in the portrayal of computers and robots in film?
- Why computers and robots are so often portrayed as out of control and as trying to take over the world? What is the role of technology in society? What are the historical, economic, and psychological factors that are responsible for this portrayal? Are such portrayals a realistic concern? What are the philosophical implications of advances in technology? How has computer technology and computer-based communication impacted the way we communicate, live our lives, and interact?
- How has the perception of the computer expert (geek, nerd, guru, etc.) changed over time? How does this relate to sociological and economic changes in society?
During the course students will view (outside of class) approximately one film per week that involves computers, computer technology, or robots. The content and discussion of these films will introduce the students to key areas within computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence, robotics, networks, computer vision, computer security, etc.), as well as have them understand how our perceptions of these areas are affected by context (historical, economic, sociological, and psychological). The list of films and the schedules are posted in Moodle. Many of the films address deep philosophical issues. The class meetings will be heavily discussion-oriented, with students expected to actively participate in the discussion. The course will also involve the writing of a significant final paper, which will address a key question (perhaps from the list above), and will require the students to consider multiple disciplines and perspectives. Each student will prepare and present a brief topic during class.
- Teacher: Roger Tsai