Loki: Pop Culture and Philosophy Discussion Camp

Completed by 7 learners

Ages 10-15

Live Group Class

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 reviews)

Live video meetings

3x per week, 2 weeks

3-10 learners per class

45 min

About Learning Overview Teacher Reviews

What's included

6 live meetings

4 hrs 30 mins in-class hours

Homework

2 writing assignments

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. 

Class 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
Class 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? Clip from The Good Place will be used to demonstrate the Trolley Problem.
         Homework: Watch episode 2 of Loki
Class 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
Class 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 and 5
Class 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. In episode 5, the audience learns that being pruned actually transports people to a sort of purgatory. It is inhabited by numerous Loki variants. Based on each philosophy learned so far, why might each Loki be different? What makes them the same? 
       Homework: Watch episode 6 
Class 6: 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 1-2 paragraphs explaining what might have been the "right" choice and why

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.

Other Details

Parental Guidance

Loki is TV-14

Supply List

Disney+

External Resources

Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

Sources

Disney+ will be required to watch Loki

Meet the teacher

Cori Chapman

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.