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Film & Media Studies



Film & Media Studies

The study of film and visual media is a central aspect of our idea of liberal arts as a “useful education.” The six-course film & media studies minor brings together critical analysis and creation of media and is distinguished by its flexibility and diversity. As an interdisciplinary program, we offer students a wide range of courses from numerous disciplines.

In addition to screenwriting and video production, we draw our courses from such departments as English, French, German, history, Italian and Spanish as well as East Asian, Africana and Middle East and women’s, gender & sexuality studies. This program, therefore, studies film cultures throughout virtually the entire world.

While mass media is part of our broad definition, our focus goes deeper than studying the content of media and instead includes a critical inquiry into the technological conditions that shape the content. In that sense, film counts as media and is only separated in our program title, as this reflects the established traditions of scholarly fields. Media courses may include inquiries into social media, television, sound technologies, photography, journalism, video games and other forms of media platforms.

In addition, we regularly encourage our students to spend their junior year in England at the University of East Anglia, which has one of the richest and most highly regarded film studies programs in Europe.

Contact Info

Chair

Nicoletta Marini-MaioProfessor of Italian and Film & Media Studies

Staff

Madeline BrownDepartment Coordinator

Phone

717-245-1521

Fax

717-245-1456

Location

Denny 219B Mailing Address

Department Features



Student Perspective

“I want to be a screenwriter and director, but I am also very passionate about American politics and activism. American studies was the perfect fusion of these two areas for me—a major where I get to study American history in conjunction with American art, representation and structures and institutions. I believe filmmakers have a responsibility to represent different types of people ethically, and I’m learning more and more about people through my major every day. Paired with my film studies minor, it’s a wonderful combination for me.”

— Jackie Logsted ’22

Department Announcements

Congratulations to Jackie Logsted ’22, currently pursuing a career as a screenwriter, whose short film Someone Somewhere was screened this past Friday (August 26, 2022) at Indigo Soul NYC!  More info about the film is available here.


Film & Media Studies News

From Bestsellers to Blockbusters: Star Writer Nick Hornby to Visit Dickinson

From Bestsellers to Blockbusters: Star Writer Nick Hornby to Visit Dickinson

The Oscar-nominated screenwriter and award-winning author (High Fidelity, Fever Pitch, About a Boy, Brooklyn) will visit Dickinson Feb. 20-21..

Dream Team: Students, Renowned Artists Collaborate on Experimental Multi-arts Work

Dream Team: Students, Renowned Artists Collaborate on Experimental Multi-arts Work

Are we dreaming? Students worked with the HawtPlates to create a convention-busting spring production, onstage April 2.

New Faculty Book Explores How Hollywood Brings Comics to Screens Around the World

New Faculty Book Explores How Hollywood Brings Comics to Screens Around the World

From 'The Walking Dead' to 'Wonder Woman,' Greg Steirer's 'The American Comic Book Industry and Hollywood' gets to the bottom of a worldwide phenomenon.

Scholarship Stories: Professor of English Wendy Moffat

Scholarship Stories: Professor of English Wendy Moffat

Professor of English Wendy Moffat discusses the inspiration behind the Donald Moffat Scholarship, which she established in memory of her father.

Dickinson College Faculty Selects Professor of Japanese for Distinguished Teaching Award

Dickinson College Faculty Selects Professor of Japanese for Distinguished Teaching Award

Alex Bates, associate professor of Japanese language, literature and film recently received the 2020-21 Distinguished Teaching Award.

Student Snapshot: Allan Farfan Canales ’23

Student Snapshot: Allan Farfan Canales ’23

Allan Farfan Canales ‘23 has written screenplays and short stories and created a mixtape about his first year at Dickinson.