Associate Editor Brett Pardy recently defended his PhD about film and empathy. We discuss his research, what inspired him to get into the topic, and how Seventh Row ties in.
This episode features Editor-in-Chief Alex Heeney, Executive Editor Orla Smith, and Associate Editor Brett Pardy
Brett’s doctoral dissertation: Opening difficult conversations: Empathy and intercultural film viewing
That films generate empathy is often assumed, but there is a gap in research to date that explores how theoretically and pedagogically this can occur. To move beyond wishful thinking, Brett’s study examines a more nuanced conception of best practices, by beginning with the question: How could empathy, produce what Jacques Rancière called dissensus— the sensory break with the normal order of things—in order to imagine new possibilities. Using methods designed to examine how viewing is (and is not) transformative in a specific context, Brett facilitated three film viewing sessions with ten students and faculty members at a Canadian university. The three films, Stupid Young Heart, Rhymes for Young Ghouls, and Meditation Park. His intent was to prompt participant dialogue related to intercultural communication, justice and anti-racist education. The sessions served as a case study into how viewing and discussing films illustrates theoretical contributions, drawing together insights from film theory, empathy philosophy, affect theory, transformative education, and anti-racist education. He concluded that the films did help to conceptualize change as a matter of doing things differently. The films also helped participants realize that there is a much larger world of media available than the limited sources they were accustomed to.
Brett’s dissertation is not yet publicly available. If you are interested in reading it or have questions, please email brett@seventh-row.com
On This Episode
- Brett’s doctoral dissertation (0:45)
- Related episodes (4:48)
- Brett’s origin story for getting into this study (9:36)
- Cultural perceptions of films as just entertainment (18:24)
- What does empathy through film look like? (29:03)
- Having conversations about films (34:36)
- Expanding people’s film horizons (43:31)
- How Seventh Row relates to this (48:36)
- Conclusion (1:02:18)
Show Notes
- Read Brett’s interview with Stupid Young Heart director Selma Vilhunen and writer Kirsikka Saari
- Read Alex’s interview with Meditation Park director Mina Shum
- Read Roger Ebert’s speech about empathy and film.
- See the They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They Top 1000 film list
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