Philosophers of film and film scholars are increasingly investigating and pursuing non-, anti-, and a-theoretical methods and methodologies in their work.
In 2018, Craig Fox & Britt Harrison coined the phrase “philosophy of film without theory” to help champion – and focus attention on – such scholarly work and philosophical activity.
In 2019, Craig and Britt hosted an inaugural international conference of the same name, at the University of York, England. In 2020, they co-edited a special issue of the journal Aesthetic Investigations on philosophy of film without theory at the invitation of journal editor-in-chief Rob van Gerwen and in 2023 Craig and Britt’s 19-chapter co-edited book, Philosophy of Film Without Theory, was published by Palgrave Macmillan.
In October 2023 – at the invitation of Katheryn Doran – Hamilton College, New York State hosts the 2nd Philosophy of Film Without Theory conference.
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Approaches in the Philosophy of Film Without Theory echo those of Philosophy (in general) Without Theory. These include, but are by no means limited to: fine-grained description and discernment; disentangling confusions; reactive and/or reflective critical inquiry, the exploration of conceptual connections; logical geography; conceptual synthesis; the provision of perspicuous presentations and surveyable overviews; non-systematic engagement with individual or particular works, subjects, objects, ideas, events and/or situations… and more.
Philosophy Without Theory about film may include any of the above as part of a commitment to pay close attention to the form, content, and thematic aspect individual films.
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Philosophy of Film, Without Theory 