Film Series
A2Ethics and WMU Ethics Center Present: vigilantes and ethics
When does righting a wrong become a wrong in itself?
When does taking the law into your own hands — or going beyond the law — cross ethical boundaries?
Join us this fall as we watch two films in the international vigilante tradition and discuss these questions and others through an ethical lens. Bring your own ideas about movies you’ve seen to broaden our conversation.
Discussion 1: Wednesday, October 12
Film: UNGLI (The Finger), 1 hour, 53 minutes, TV-14, Hindi, Subtitles
This popular 2014 Bollywood film presents vigilantes as practical jokers, giving the middle finger--and doing more--to expose systemic corruption. One possible discussion question: Is the original impulse behind the vigilantism in Ungli ethically legitimate?
Please join Sandy Borden, director of the Western Michigan University Center for Ethics in Society, Jeanine DeLay, president of A2Ethics, and Gabe Kahn, A2Ethics Board member and director of the DYOE Symposia series, for the first Vigilante and Ethics Film and Discussion night.
- You can view the movie BEFORE the Discussion on your own. Type in/Click UNGLI in Search on your activated Netflix or Amazon Prime account. Choose the language subtitles you prefer. If you choose this option, just connect to the Zoom link below from 8-9pm EDT on October 12.
- OR you can participate in the UNGLI Watch Party with us on Wednesday evening, October 12, right before the Discussion. The directions:
- Connect to the Discussion Zoom link call by 6pm.
- Using any device, e.g., desktop, laptop, tablet etc. activate your Netflix or Amazon Prime account.
- Type in/Click UNGLI in Search. Choose the language subtitles you prefer.
- We will start watching UNGLI together, so wait until the host invites everyone to begin watching.
- During the film showing, please feel free to use Chat on Zoom, though please remain on MUTE.
- The UNGLI Discussion will begin on the same Zoom call at 8pm EDT.
Here are some resources about vigilantes to pique your interest in vigilante definitions and the topic:
- Jonathan Obert from The Conversation
- TED talk by the founder of Bellingcat, an online investigation organization
Discussion 2: Wednesday, November 9
Film: Age of Consent—Canada’s Original Vigilante Pedophile Hunter, 52 minutes, Strong language and disturbing content, English only
Join facilitators Sandy Borden, director of WMU Center for the Study of Ethics in Society, and Jeanine DeLay, president of A2Ethics, for a discussion prompted by this documentary. In this session, our discussion focuses on the moral intentions of the lone vigilante, and the potential ways access to technologies may upend our common notions of shaming and justice.
Watch party time: 7pm EDT via Documentary Heaven. The entire film is available on this site.
Note: If you wish to watch Age of Consent before the November 9 event, you can watch it here: https://documentaryheaven.com/age-of-consent/
Discussion time: 8pm to 9pm EDT.
Shown in 2017, this Vice documentary profiles Toronto resident Justin Payne, a self-appointed vigilante. His night job is pretending to be a 13-year-old boy online. His targets establish online relationships and set up in-person meetings with him. Documenting these encounters, with help from his cameraman Gerry, Justin publicly shames and confronts his online predators.
Here are some resources to pique your interest in the topic:
- Who becomes a lone vigilante? Can we identify common character traits they may have? If so, what are they?
- The advent of new technologies has "democratized" vigilante activity. Does this create new ethical issues?
- Is there a difference between shaming someone and calling them out? Is shaming ever morally acceptable? Is it an ethical problem in having no shame?
Here is the Zoom link you will need for both the watch party and the discussion:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88526208739?pwd=Z2Z6T2t5eUc4ODE2RXpOR1VPT0g0UT09
Meeting ID: 885 2620 8739
Passcode: 128278