Narrative, Film, and Identity

William C. Pamerleau, Ph.D., is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. He publishes articles on a variety of philosophical topics but specializes in the philosophy of film. He is the author of Existentialist Cinema (2009).

• Introduction1 Meaning and Narrative1 The Narrative Self1.1 Narrative Structure1.2 Narrative Identity2 Meaning and Narrative3 Narrative and Meaning in Life3.1 Subjectivists and Objectivists3.2 Meaning of Life3.3 Meaning in Life4 Objections to Narrative Identity4.1 The Self Is Not the Same Thing as the Narrated Life4.2 Narrative Inaccurately Describes Our Life as We Experience It4.3 The Narrative Process Distorts What Is Valuable about Life5 Refining the Narrative Approach6 Conclusion2 Meaning and Film1 Spectator Activity and Film Narrative1.1 Cognitivist Spectator Theories1.2 Spectator Activity and Emotions2 Experiencing Films as Meaningful2.1 An Experience Unaccounted for by Film Scholars2.2 The Role of Life Narratives3 Shaping Viewer Narratives3.1 Shaping Perceptions and Sustaining Stereotypes3.2 Making More Meaningful Narratives4 Conclusion3 Narrative Realism1 Defining “Realism”2 Narrative Realism2.1 A Multifaceted Approach2.2 Realism Depends on Interest2.3 Creating New Possibilities3 Narrative Distortion3.1 Objections to Narrative Realism3.2 Defending Narrative Realism: Real Narratives and Truth3.3 Defending Narrative Realism: The Differences between Film Narratives and Life Narratives4 Conclusion4 Meaningful Films1 Film Viewing as Meaningful Experience1.1 The Emotion of Meaningfulness1.2 Does the Personal Nature of Life Narratives Limit Theoretical Analysis?2 An Analysis of Meaningful Films2.1 Good Will Hunting2.2 American Beauty2.3 Winter Light3 Conclusion5 Cinema’s Effect on Social Narratives1 The Social Nature of Narratives2 The Impact of Film on Social Narratives3 A Narrative Approach to Prejudice and Discrimination in Film3.1 Schemas3.2 Selection3.3 Immersion4 Conclusion6 Expanding Narrative Possibilities1 Making Meaningful Narratives: Clarifying the Scope of Moral Principles1.1 Engaging Existing Moral Perspectives1.2 Effects on Agency2 Creating New Moral Perspectives2.1 Virtue and Moral Examples2.2 Moral Examples in Fictional Narratives3 Expanding Resources for Constructing Meaningful Identities4 Challenging Narratives4.1 Renewal Narratives4.2 Upsetting Narrative Forms5 ConclusionConclusionBibliographyIndex