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Loki: Pop Culture and Philosophy Discussion

Students will learn philosophy and popular culture analysis using Marvel's Loki Series on Disney+.
Cori Chapman
Average rating:
4.5
Number of reviews:
(112)
Class
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What's included

8 live meetings
7 hrs 20 mins in-class hours
Homework
1-2 hours per week. 2 short writing assignments, 1 essay
Assessment
Learner progress is assessed mostly through participation as well as the improvement of writing assignments

Class Experience

US Grade 5 - 8
I use PowerPoint slides for every class to promote discussion topics as well as stay organized. 

Week 1: After the initial introductions, this class will recap the MCU so far regarding Loki. We will discuss not just the MCU version of his character, but also his role in Norse mythology, and in the Marvel comics. Clips from previous MCU films will be shown. Students will learn about where the moral alignment chart came from and how it is used in other areas of popular culture. What is Loki's alignment? Does this vary depending on which form we're consuming? How do we determine his alignment?
         Homework: Watch episode 1 of Loki

Week 2: What did we learn about the TVA in episode, and what did we learn about Loki? Episode 1 used an unsolved case about D.B. Cooper to include in Loki's history which we will explore. Students will learn John Stuart Mill's harm principle and utilitarianism and discuss how this relates to Loki. Does the TVA follow ethical practices, or does it seem inhumane? What evidence do we have for these questions? Is this a sound ethical belief to follow?
         Homework: Watch episode 2 of Loki and write 1 paragraph about how Loki does or does not follow Mill's harm principle

Week 3: This class will cover Immanuel Kant's categorical imperatives. What are Loki's motives in episode 2? Is it clear? Is it self serving? Does it follow Kant's categorical imperatives? What are some issues with Kantian philosophy? How might this excuse or not excuse Loki's behavior?
         Homework: Watch episode 3 of Loki

Week 4: Episode 3 revealed another Loki variant. There were breadcrumbs left to the fans to encourage participation in solving puzzles with different theories. This class will discuss comic book influences, nature vs. nurture, and Aristotle's moral virtues, as well as Marxism (to address the Ark and discrimination of who is allowed on the Ark). Sylvie and Loki are the same person, just different variants, so is the difference between them in nature or nurture? What does this tell us about the TVA?
        Homework: Watch episode 4

Week 5: In episode 4, Mobius and B-15 learn that they are variants that were stolen from the timeline with their memories erased to believe that the "Time Keepers" created them. Why is the reaction of the worker always the same when he/she find out about being a variant? Using terms learned previously, how does this look in the lens of moral philosophers? Is the TVA acting in a way to cause harm to workers? In this class, we will also discuss the interrogation techniques and the ethics around the Loki/Sylvie relationship.
       Homework: Watch episode 5

Week 6: This class will recap terms previously learned, and then also discuss Plato's Allegory of the Cave. We meet a lot of other Loki variants in episode 5. How do these characters compare to our Loki? What makes them different and what makes them the same. Why might there be more Loki variants and how have they managed to survive? We will discuss Loki society as well as the role of fan culture in this episode using the comics for reference and how this was similar to WandaVision. How does the experience of watching episodes release weekly compare to binge watching? How does the experience differ when you are rewatching the show?
      Homework: Watch episode 6 and write 1-2 paragraphs on one of the Loki variants and how they might differ from our Loki. Are they different because of nature or nurture?

Week 7: We will discuss Spinoza's philosophy on free will as well as the previous learned utilitarianism as it relates to the finale. Loki and Sylvie learn the whole truth behind the TVA and react differently to this story. Why may they have acted so differently? Is there a right or wrong choice between the 2 options? How can we find reason in these 2 options? How might this affect the entirety of the MCU?
     Homework: Write a short essay explaining what might have been the "right" choice and why

Week 8: This class will involve a discussion of everything we have learned over the course of the class. How many Loki variants did we meet? Does the opening of the multiverse give back free will? Does the TVA essentially control free will with the disposal of variants? Does free will still prevail since variants still exist? Why is it just the Loki variants that survive?
Learning Goals
Students will learn of different philosophies in a fun way and use it to analyze Loki, its characters, and the concept of the TVA.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Loki is rated TV-14
Supply List
Disney+
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined February, 2019
4.5
112reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in English from Syracuse University
Students tend to be more engaged when they have an actual interest in the content; I personally found that learning how to write well was easier when it involved topics I enjoyed rather than being forced to read books I found outdated and boring in high school. When I joined Outschool, I wanted to teach writing while also focusing on subjects that I am passionate about, and that students may be passionate about as well. While earning a degree in English, I learned how to write quality essays on numerous topics including film studies, which is a part of English that is both interesting and engaging; learning how to write film analyses truly enhances one's critical thinking skills. As a teacher, I like to create courses that are both challenging and fun. While in college, I became passionate about philosophy as well as the antihero mindset. Philosophy mixed with film and character analysis allows for a better understanding because it gives us an on screen example. It allows us to understand individualism in certain characters, as well as the "good" and "evil" that is present in every text. 

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$15

weekly or $120 for 8 classes
1x per week, 8 weeks
55 min

Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-15
3-10 learners per class

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