ABSTRACT
In Chapter 6, it is argued that imagination is a reliable source of knowledge and that films can afford epistemic gains guiding our imaginative engagement, as they can function like thought experiments. In this chapter, the author expands on the possibility that imaginative engagement may actually trigger critical reflection. In particular, Brecht’s theory of political art is considered more closely, as he held that those artworks that foster identification between characters and spectators systematically ‘block’ critical thinking. The author argues that this is not the case and the films that invite the spectator to feel with or to feel for a character can be just as effective as those works that make use of, what Brecht calls, the alienation effect. This chapter, then, brings at the forefront of discussion the different techniques films can use to afford epistemic value, paying particular attention to the role of emotions and empathic engagement.
