Liberal Arts - 32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT - 59812
406-243-5231
Sean O'Brien
– Lecturer of English (Film Studies)
Office: LA 145
Phone: (406) 243-5791
Fax: (406) 243-5313
Email: sean.o''brien@mso.umt.edu
Current Position:
I am currently Director of English/Film Studies, one of five options available for those majoring in English.
Description:
I received my Ph.D. in philosophy, and discovered early in my academic career that philosophy and film make great bedfellows. Since then, I have drawn from the best of both arenas in structuring my philosophy and film studies courses. I rely on philosophers to help students understand the great films, and use film to help illustrate great works in philosophy. My production courses also have a strong philosophic bent, as it is often important for students to develop or discover the philosophic principles that undergird their dramas and documentaries.
I am also a documentary filmmaker. My most recent documentary, "Be Thou Always as Guest," a portrait of a 91-year-old Montana rancher who began an impressive painting career at the age of 78, aired on Montana PBS in May, 2010.
Office Hours:
My office hours for the Fall 2010 semester will be Tu, Th 11:00-12:30 and by appointment in LA 145.
Field Of Study:
Film Theory
Documentary Production
Phenomonology/Existentialism
Courses:
Fall 2010 courses:
ENFM/LS 180 - Intro to Film
ENFM 195 - The Films of David Lynch
ENFM 395 - Film Studies Practicum
ENFM 443 - Documentary: Theory and Practice
Education:
Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Colorado/Boulder - 1989
MA in Philosophy from The University of Montana/Missoula - 1985
BA in Philosophy from The University of Montana/Missoula - 1981
I have taken numerous courses in film production.
Teaching Experience:
I believe in the value of interdisciplinary education, and I have taught courses cross-listed in a wide range of disciplines, including Philosophy, English, Media Arts, Communication and Environmental Studies. At present, I am responsible for teaching the following courses in the Film Studies Program.
ENFM/LS 180 - Intro to Film
ENFM 427 - Film Theory
ENFM 443 - Documentary - Theory and Practice
ENFM 495/MAR 495 - Making Movies - Just Do It!
ENFM 495/PHIL 444 - The Good, the Bad and the Indulgent:: Film and Virtue
WRIT 101 - Writing about Film
Courses that I have taught in the past include:
PHIL 200 - Ethics
PHIL 202 - Environmental Ethis
PHIL 210 - Logic
PHIL 427 - Ethics and the Environment
Comm 111 - Public Speaking
LS 381 - The Films of Stanley Kubrick
International Experience:
I have taught two documentary production courses that involved overseas travel. The first,"Stories from Ireland," was a course that resulted in five student-produced documentaries on Ireland. The second, "The Galapogos Islands," was co-taught with then UM geneticist, Paul Spruell, and resulted in four productions, each documenting a different aspect of the islands.
