Dr. Ron Mallon
Final: Thursday December 11, 10:30-12:00 in OSH 235.
On the final exam, you will be asked to write on one question from each group below. On the day of exam, one of the questions from each group will be eliminated at random, and the you will have a choice between the remaining two. So, to adequately prepare for the exam, you should prepare answers to two questions from each group. You will have exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes to take the exam.
Group 1.
1. What makes a person the same person through time? Be prepared to distinguish at least two different views of personal identity. Discuss the coherence of the ÒafterlifeÓ depicted in Afterlife in light of these two views.
2. Explain Williams idea of Òmoral luck.Ó Is Ransom Stoddard of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance afflicted by moral luck? If so how? If not, why not?
3. One typical feature of the Western genre is a concern with the end of a certain way of life. Peter French discusses this feature in connection with The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and he suggests that end of the West brings Òthe death of death.Ó Does this occur in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance? Explain why or why not.
Group 2.
4. Distinguish at least two different views of punishment, and consider how they apply to both:
(1) the sex workers of The Unforgiven placing a bounty on the rancher who attacked one of them,
and
(2) William MunnyÕs brutal attack on the law enforcement officers of Shinbone at the end of The Unforgiven.
5. Cynthia Freeland argues that Carol J. CloverÕs theory of the Òfinal girlÓ does not fit Alien. Is she right? Why or why not?
6. No‘l Carroll offers a theory of art horror. Explain CarrollÕs characterization of art horror, illustrating it with examples from Alien and Them.
Other study questions:
(1) Be prepared to distinguish between a valid and an invalid argument.
(2) What is the characteristic feature of feminism?
(3) What, according to No‘l Carroll, are the characteristics of horror movies? Of horror monsters?
(4) What is the turing test?
(5) Explain Giambattista VicoÕs view of history, and how French thinks it applies to a Western like The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
(6) Be familiar with the basic doctrines of all the readings. Be especially familiar with those in the second half.