Philosophy and Film

Philosophy and film studies is a combination that recognises something film scholars and philosophers have long understood: cinema is not merely entertainment but one of the most powerful instruments of thought and inquiry that human beings have created. Film can embody philosophical arguments, make abstract ideas vivid and particular, explore the nature of time and consciousness in ways that prose cannot, and raise questions about reality, representation, ethics, and identity that philosophy addresses through argument. Studying them together develops both the rigorous analytical tools of philosophy and the critical vocabulary needed to engage seriously with cinema as an art form.

At the University of Dundee, this four-year, full-time programme specialises in continental, or European, philosophy, engaging with key texts and thinkers from the European tradition alongside the study of film history, theory, and practice. You will develop skills in philosophical argument and conceptual analysis alongside the critical analysis of films and the theoretical frameworks that film studies provides for understanding cinema as a medium, an industry, and a cultural force. A year abroad is available, giving you the opportunity to study in another country and to encounter philosophical and cinematic traditions from a different national perspective.

The combination develops exceptional skills in reading, argumentation, interpretation, and communication. Graduates go on to careers in education, film criticism and journalism, arts administration, cultural policy, broadcasting, the creative industries, and publishing. Some move into research or academic careers in philosophy, film studies, or media studies.

Others apply the critical and analytical skills the degree develops in wider professional fields, including the civil service, law, marketing, and the charity sector. Many continue to postgraduate study in philosophy, film, or cultural theory.