MVV353K Law and the Humanities

Faculty of Law
Autumn 2022
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
Prof. Paul Von Blum (seminar tutor), doc. JUDr. Ing. Michal Radvan, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
doc. JUDr. Ing. Michal Radvan, Ph.D.
Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Mgr. Věra Redrupová, B.A.
Supplier department: Faculty of Law
Timetable of Seminar Groups
MVV353K/01: Tue 13. 9. 16:00–17:40 041, 18:00–19:40 041, Wed 14. 9. 16:00–17:40 041, 18:00–19:40 041, Thu 15. 9. 16:00–17:40 041, 18:00–19:40 041, Fri 16. 9. 8:00–9:40 041, Mon 19. 9. 8:00–9:40 041
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 38/40, only registered: 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 38 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
For many centuries, artists working in several media have dealt with a variety of legal themes. Often, they have used their creative abilities to provide commentary and criticism about lawyers, judges, courts, and many other legal institutions. This mini-course will examine selected examples of literature, film, and visual art from many cultures. Throughout our time, we will examine and discuss some powerful issues involving the relationships of law and the humanities, focusing in particular on how traditional humanistic source materials can provide valuable intellectual and ethical stimuli for members and prospective members of the legal profession.
Syllabus
  • 1. Literature
  • In this section of the course, the emphasis will be on literary art as a means of commentary about law, the legal profession, and legal institutions. The focus will be on the The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy. It is a short story of approximately 50 pages and can be read in English or Russian for those of you who know the language. It should be read outside class so that we can maximize discussion.
  • 2. Film
  • Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, many feature films and documentaries have also treated legal themes directly and indirectly. This time we will discuss “Sophie Scholl: The Final Days.” If at all possible, students will see it outside of class also. It’s two hours long and in German with English subtitles. We will examine this prize winning film from different that raises fundamental issues of ethical and social responsibility for lawyers, judges, and other legal personnel as well as for human beings generally when they confront horrific political circumstances.
  • 3. Visual Arts
  • Traditional forms of visual art, including painting, printmaking, sculpture, and photography, have similarly been employed to comment about law, lawyers, and legal institutions in several cultures and historical eras. In this course unit, we will emphasize artworks based on the published research of the course instructor. Examples include Francisco Goya; William Hogarth; Honore Daumier; Georges Rouault; George Grosz; Ben Shahn; Dorothea Lange; Gordon Parks; Romare Bearden; John Wilson; Charles Freeman; Noni Olabisi; David Hammons; Jose Ivey; Jose Clemente Orozco; and many others. These will be shown in class.
Literature
  • See the Syllabus for more details.
Teaching methods
lectures, discussions
Assessment methods
The students will write an essay of approximately one-page in the final class session offering their personal reactions to whichever materials or topics covered in class that they find most important or personally engaging. They will have wide latitude here and they may draw on any of the materials covered, including the initial literature, film, visual artworks or any of the instructor’s presentations.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
Teacher's information
COURSE DISCUSSIONS:

These comments are based on my previous experience teaching here for many years. It has been an exciting and very satisfying experience.

I would like to encourage maximum student discussion, even if we don’t cover all the material in this short course description. My view is that it’s more educationally valuable for you to take an active role than to “cover” material that you could easily forget soon after the course finishes. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you would like; there really are no “bad” questions. I will try to speak clearly in English and if there are any words or concepts you don’t understand, please let me know immediately. Also, I am available after class for any personal discussion as much as possible and I will do my best to answer emails promptly, as I do at UCLA.

Email: pvonblum@ucla.edu

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