Movie Response Paper
Several accounts of personal identity have been addressed and discussed throughout the
philosophical discipline. For this paper, please refer to John Locke’s consideration, Peter
Unger’s fascinating claim, and both The Ship of Theseus and the Sorites’ Paradoxes to support
your position concerning the questions.
We have a close personal admiration towards the ‘I,’ but does this directly relate to identity?
Is there a difference between personal identity and the self? Do we exist? Why or why not?
These questions are unnecessary for your essay, but consider the thought as you begin to
craft and piece together your responses.
Philosophically, Eternal Sunshine addresses an interesting dilemma concerning one’s
identity. For your Media Response Paper, I want you to reflect and answer the following
question in a thorough analysis concerning the incidents throughout the movie:
The title of the movie derives from the following passage in the poem Eloisa to Abelard, by
Alexander Pope:
How happy is the blameless Vestal’s lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot;
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d.
1. Why was this title chosen for this movie?
2. In one of the first modern accountings of consciousness and identity, John Locke
argued that personal identity is defined not by the physical body or the “soul” but by
repeated self-identification. Thus, according to Locke, memory is an integral aspect
of the self. Are Clementine and Joel different people after they have their memories
erased? In other words, have their identities changed in some meaningful way?
3. Does this movie help confirm or deny Locke’s thesis?
4. Consider that elective plastic surgery might be a real-life analog to the memory-
erasing procedure. On the American TV show “Extreme Makeover,” people are given
plastic surgery as part of a radical image upgrade. Do these peoples’ identities
change in any meaningful way?
5. Does your answer to the previous question help confirm or deny Locke’s idea of
identity?
Format
This is a typed essay with freedom of structure to a degree of professional scholarly
presentation. In other words, the usual formats will be necessary:
1. 12 Point Font
2. Double Spaced
3. 1’ Inch Margin
4. Fluidity in Paragraph Structuring (If You Use Indentation, Be Sure It’s Consistent)
5. MLA, APA, or Chicago Format (Please Pick Just One)
6. Necessary and Proper Citation Throughout
7. Works Cited, Bibliography at The End
Reference Purdue Owl for proper structuring.
This is a Critical Thinking and Composition course, so your writing craft will be challenged
essentially so that you can adequately present, structure, and articulate your thoughts.
Please draft a rough draft, revise it, and finalize your papers. Even though this is loosely an
opinion paper, there will be objective evidence to support your claims, so professional writing
will still be standard.
The length of this paper will be 4-6 pages, but with all the information presented, you might go
over the count, and I would suspect that. – Don’t feel limited with keeping the material short,
but don’t feel the need to ramble. Precision and concise articulation give you a far superior
and professional look in your writing.
You’ll have three weeks to gather your thoughts and piece this essay together, sufficient time
to compose an excellent essay. Please reach out with drafts and reviews; I will be glad to help
with any obstacles you may encounter. This essay is relatively straightforward and should
not be terribly challenging to craft, but please don’t wait last minute to finish. In contrast to
your Critical Analysis Paper, I will grade far more heavily on the structure of the overall
paper. So, there’s more room for error, but again, the time is sufficient to ensure you meet any
demands.
Paper Structure
This is a scholarly essay concerning the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the
concept of personal identity. In answering the questions provided, respond with fluidity and
structure. I am not looking for question/answer responses but rather a well-organized,
articulated, and thorough response analysis concerning the two subjects.
An example would be:
I. Introduction
In the film, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, the philosophical dilemma surrounding personal
identity is presented fascinatingly. [Continue your introduction and apply your thesis (your take on the
personal identity matter) here.]
II. The Title
The film’s title derives from the following passage in the poem Eloisa to Abelard by Alexander Pope:
How happy is the blameless Vestal’s lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot;
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d.
I believe this title was chosen to explain [give your reasonings; consider either a solid paragraph or two
to collect your thoughts].
III. John Locke’s Account
In one of the first modern accountings of consciousness and identity, John Locke argued that personal
identity is defined not by the physical body or the “soul” but by repeated self-identification. Thus,
according to Locke, memory is an integral aspect of the self. [In two-three paragraphs, explain if and why
Clementine and Joel are different people after their memories are erased, in other words, have their
identities changed in some meaningful way?]
IV. Movie’s Assessment of Locke’s Account
[In a paragraph or two, explain your take on whether the film confirms or deny’s Locke’s thesis.]
V. Is the New You Really You?
In cases of plastic surgery, some may claim that our personal identity is altered; thus, we are not the
same as we were. [Consider an outside source to support your view; this should be about two-three
paragraphs.]
VI. Locke’s Right (or Wrong)
Do you think Locke is right or wrong with all the newfound information? Consider Peter Unger’s account
and the paradoxes, including any other sources you might have.
VII. Conclusion
Repeat your introduction and include your final thoughts on the matter at hand. Do you believe Locke’s
account? What are your thoughts, and how could this movie help others relate the philosophical material
to reflect on the concept of identity?
