Tag: Philosophy

Watching Film and Television in Foreign Languages (Prof. Angela Sun)

1 student is sought for a project on “Watching Film and Television in Foreign Languages” with Prof. Angela Sun that will begin on 6/1/24 and last for 10 weeks

Project Description:

I am seeking research assistance from a student who is fluent in Korean and familiar with Korean culture for an ongoing project that concerns watching film and television produced in a language other than one’s own. Together, we will carefully watch K-Dramas (including Crash Landing on You and Extraordinary Attorney Woo), analyzing them for dialects and accents, effective vs. ineffective subtitling, dubbing quality, and subtle cultural references. Over the course of our research, students will develop a deep understanding of the aesthetic challenges posed by engaging with film and television in a language other than one’s own as well as broader awareness of questions in the philosophy of film and television.

Prerequisites

Fluency in spoken and written Korean and familiarity with Korean culture are required. Previous coursework in philosophy is a plus but not required.

Special Comments

Project Information

Estimated Start Date: 6/1/24

Estimated End Date: 8/9/24

Maximum number of students sought: 1

Contact Information: Prof. Angela Sun (asun@wlu.edu)

Describing & Categorizing People for Image Descriptions (Prof. Rachel Levit Ades)

2 students are sought for a project on “Describing & Categorizing People for Image Descriptions” with Prof. Rachel Levit Ades that will begin on 6/9/2024 and last for 6 weeks

Project Description:

Image descriptions, sometimes known as “alt text,” explain images for people who are blind and low-vision. However, almost all guides neglect when and how to describe the social categories—such as the race, gender, and disability status—of people portrayed. How do we create a “good image description” when that image contains a person? For example, when is it relevant or important to mention someone’s race? My summer project involves looking to how other disciplines describe people as a way of offering context and guidance for what current accessibility practices should be. We will examine how questions of race and description have been addressed by those in art history and the library sciences, and extrapolate techniques and wisdom from these disciplines to answer the issue now posed by electronic image description.

Prerequisites

Experience in art history, philosophy, sociology/anthropology, English, digital humanities and/or museum studies preferred

Special Comments

Students should plan on working in person at least 4 out of the 6 weeks of the project. We will work virtually June 23-June 29.

Project Information

Estimated Start Date: 6/9/2024

Estimated End Date: 7/19/2024

Maximum number of students sought: 2

Contact Information: Prof. Rachel Levit Ades (rlevitades@wlu.edu)

Modeling Philosophy (Prof. Li Kang)

1 student is sought for a project on “Modeling Philosophy” with Prof. Li Kang that will begin on 6/1/2024 and last for 8 weeks

Project Description:

(1) To create customized versions of ChatGPT (or other large language models) that are familiar with particular philosophers’ works or with relevant work on specific philosophical issues. (2) To evaluate the outputs of the customized GPT ‘philosophers’.

Prerequisites

(1) Have completed PHIL 274 Metaphysics. (2) Have completed at least two philosophy courses.

Special Comments

Project Information

Estimated Start Date: 6/1/2024

Estimated End Date: 7/26/2024

Maximum number of students sought: 1

Contact Information: Prof. Li Kang (lkang@wlu.edu)

Describing & Categorizing People for Image Descriptions (Prof. Rachel Levit Ades)

2 students are sought for a project on “Describing & Categorizing People for Image Descriptions” with Prof. Rachel Levit Ades that will begin on 6/9/2024 and last for 6 weeks

Project Description:

Image descriptions, sometimes known as “alt text,” explain images for people who are blind and low-vision. However, almost all guides neglect when and how to describe the social categories—such as the race, gender, and disability status—of people portrayed. How do we create a “good image description” when that image contains a person? For example, when is it relevant or important to mention someone’s race? My summer project involves looking to how other disciplines describe people as a way of offering context and guidance for what current accessibility practices should be. We will examine how questions of race and description have been addressed by those in art history and the library sciences, and extrapolate techniques and wisdom from these disciplines to answer the issue now posed by electronic image description.

Prerequisites

Experience in art history, philosophy, sociology/anthropology, English, digital humanities and/or museum studies preferred

Special Comments

Students should indicate in application whether/when they will be able to be on campus. Work can be done virtually but preference for working together in person. We will work virtually June 23-June 29.

Project Information

Estimated Start Date: 6/9/2024

Estimated End Date: 7/19/2024

Maximum number of students sought: 2

Contact Information: Prof. Rachel Levit Ades (rlevitades@wlu.edu)

The Ethics of Reporting Wrongdoing (Prof. Angela Sun)

2 students are sought for a project on “The Ethics of Reporting Wrongdoing” with Prof. Angela Sun that will begin on 6/1/2024 and last for 10 weeks

Project Description:

Moral philosophers have a good understanding of what makes actions wrongfulwrongful actions might cause harm to others, violate a person’s duty, or evince a bad character. But one neglected topic in ethics concerns the reporting of wrongful actions. When we bear witness to wrongdoing, are we morally required to report it? If so, to whom? What if the wrongdoer is someone we love, or the victim of the wrongdoing would be harmed further if we reported it? This projects investigates the ethics of legal avenues available for reporting wrongdoing. Students will conduct research philosophical and legal work about honor systems, police informants, Title IX and mandatory reporting policies on college campuses, and the morality of seeking legal punishment for wrongdoers in the context of mass incarceration (among other topics).

Prerequisites

Students must be rising senior philosophy majors.

Special Comments

Students are not required to be on campus.

Project Information

Estimated Start Date: 6/1/2024

Estimated End Date: 8/9/2024

Maximum number of students sought: 2

Contact Information: Prof. Angela Sun (asun@wlu.edu)