Artifacts of pop culture (particularly movies!) are fertile ground for an in-depth examination of various issues within technology ethics. From Frankenstein(1931), Ready Player One(2018), seasons of Black Mirror etc., it could be argued that science fiction isn’t about science at all; it is about people and relationships: how they cope with concerns raised by technological advancement and the choices they have to make. As a creative means to explore the ethics of technology, for this assignment you will conduct a critical analysis of one movie/motion picture film that has a technological theme. And you will communicate your analysis in the form of a written essay. In your paper you will explore the ethical concerns that are raised by particular technologies depicted in the film of your choice and the potential implications for society.
Overview
As a creative means to explore the ethics of emerging technologies, you will conduct a critical analysis of one movie/motion picture film or a documentary that encompasses some form of technology and communicate your analysis in the form of a written essay. In your paper you will discuss the ethical concerns that are raised by particular technologies depicted in the film of your choice and the potential implications for society.
It is expected that each student will rent or borrow (from the library, friend, or legal online streaming service) a copy of the movie he/she chooses in order to view it in its entirety to complete this assignment. Throughout your paper, you will be expected to make connections between issues raised in the film and reference some of basic ethical theories and philosophies we will explored in Week 3. Refer to your concept map you created for notes, definitions, and reminders. You may include other references as well from our other readings or ones you seek out on your own. You will also be expected to critically reflect on the potential ethical concerns for society as you see them.
Structure of the Paper
TWO MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:
(1) Your written essay should consist of at least 800 words of content (*NOT INCLUDING TITLE PAGE INFORMATION OR REFERENCES) and written in APA or MLA format, double-spaced, with standard 1-inch margins. In-text citations and a list of sources (References or Works Cited) at the end are an important part of your papers, so be sure to include a References page (if using APA format) OR Works Cited (if using MLA style formatting) page. Please also include a separate Title page with your identifying information (your name, the course number AND section number, date, and title of the paper). *IMPORTANT NOTE: The word count length requirement does not include the Title page or Reference/Works Cited page(s). The length requirement is important and must be adhered to for full credit, since this is a writing intensive course.
(2) Your paper should reference at least two basic ethical principles or theories from the Budinger and Budinger (2006) reading from Week 3 (e.g., utilitarianism, beneficence, malfeasance, etc.). Include a definition of the principle/theory AND how it applies or is played out in the movie.
