Media and Film Studies
Department Overview
The interdisciplinary media and film studies minor explores the function and structure of written, aural, and visual communication systems. Grounded in a strong liberal arts preparation, the program offers core courses in media theory and practice as well as the opportunity for advanced course work and practical field experience.
Media and film studies affords students the opportunity to develop critical literacy in forms of media and communication
- by providing a foundation in the central concepts (theoretical, practical, and aesthetic) and contexts of mediated communication;
- by exploring the application of current and developing forms of media and communication; and
- by fostering facility and expertise in the use of technology related to current and emerging media.
Students also participate in programs and courses offered as part of project VIS and the John B. Moore Documentary Studies Program (MDOCS). We encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning, to discuss their program and progress with their faculty advisor, and to avail themselves of relevant college-wide lectures, symposia, and media resources.
Skidmore’s media and film studies minor helps to ensure the success of the College’s mission to link “theoretical with applied learning” and prepare students to “make the choices required of informed, responsible citizens” in a 21st-century context.
Director of the Media and Film Studies Program: Mary Kate Donovan
Administrative Assistant: Beth Miller
Assistant Professor: Adam Tinkle
Lecturer: Nicole Coady
CORE FACULTY:
Art: Maura Jasper
English: Paul Benzon
International Affairs: Scott Mulligan
Media Services: Ron Taylor
Media and Film Studies Minor
For Students Who Entered Skidmore in Fall 2019 and Beyond
The media and film studies minor allows students
- to explore the function and structure of written, aural, and visual communication systems;
- to obtain a theoretical and contextual grounding in media and film studies; and
- to practice the application of current and developing forms of media technology related to communication.
The minor consists of a minimum of 18 credits earned from courses which have been designated as part of the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| MF 101 | Introduction to Media Studies | 4 |
| Cluster Courses | ||
| Select at least six credits from the Media and Culture cluster from the list of courses approved for the minor | 6 | |
| Select six credits from the Applied Media cluster from the list of courses approved for the minor | 6 | |
| Additional Cluster Courses | ||
| Select two additional credits from either cluster (Media and Culture or Applied Media) 1 | 2 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Additional Requirements
- At least three credits must be completed at the 300-level for the minor.
- Students must either complete one additional 300-level course or a structured field experience in consultation with the director that involves the student in applied learning. Students may complete the SFE through internships, independent studies, or a significant noncredit-bearing experience.
- Students will work closely with their advisors to select courses that form a meaningful and coherent individual curriculum.
- No more than eight credits taken at another institution may be counted toward the media and film studies minor.
- 1
In exceptional cases an independent study may complete this requirement, but is subject to pre-approval by the program director.
For Students Who Entered Skidmore Prior to Fall 2019
The media and film studies minor allows students
- to explore the function and structure of written, aural, and visual communication systems;
- to obtain a theoretical and contextual grounding in media and film studies; and
- to practice the application of current and developing forms of media technology related to communication. The program involves interdisciplinary study across the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.
The minor consists of a minimum of five courses (minimally 18 credits), which have been designated as part of the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| MF 101 | Introduction to Media Studies | 4 |
| Cluster Courses | ||
| Select at least three courses cross-divisionally from two clusters: “Media and Culture” and “Applied Media,”1 with at least one course from each cluster | 9-12 | |
| Additional Cluster Courses | ||
| Select one additional course, in any cluster or disciplinary division, from the list of courses approved for the minor 2 | 3-4 | |
| Total Hours | 16-20 | |
Additional Requirements
- At least one course must be completed at the 300-level for the minor.
- Students must complete a structured field experience in consultation with the director that involves the student in applied learning.Students can fulfill this requirement through internships, independent studies, or a significant noncredit-bearing experience.
- Students will work closely with their advisors to select courses that form a meaningful and coherent individual curriculum.
- No more than two courses may be double-counted toward other college requirements.
- No more than two courses taken at another institution may be counted toward the media and film studies minor.
- 1
Each of these three courses must come from a different disciplinary division (Humanities, Social Sciences, Visual and Performing Arts, and Natural Sciences and Technology)
- 2
In exceptional cases a 3- or 4-credit independent study may complete this requirement, but is subject to pre-approval by the program director.
Course Listing
Media and Film Studies Courses
An introduction to multiple forms of modern and contemporary mass media. The course examines film and at least two other forms of mass media (such as television, radio/audio, digital media, print mass media). Students will learn how to analyze media images, texts, and systems and understand how media both informs and is informed by social structures and forces.
A project-based exploration of working in the medium of 16mm Movie Film, both in-camera and directly-on-film. Students may enter the course at any level of production experience, as basic instruction in all equipment and materials will be covered. Technical skills will be developed through a series of directed exercises done in class. Proposed projects may employ shooting and editing movie film, working directly on film emulsion animation, converting to video, combining audio and/or any other media. Students will develop their projects through screenings, and individual & class critiques. Students will focus on finding an approach to form that suits both subject matter and their personal creative goals. Students will also engage in critiques of each other’s work, screenings and discussions. Exposure to a variety of creative production styles will help each student begin to develop their own unique approach.
Topically organized courses focused on selected problems, areas, and issues of special interest in Media and Film Studies. Topics vary depending upon specialization and research interests of the instructor.
An interdisciplinary introduction to the questions re: Human dilemmas in the context of an increasingly technology and media saturated culture. The course begins with close consideration of the nature and structure of human communication and an historical overview of communications and media. Students will study media from both psychological and societal perspectives and will consider the impact of media on politics, government, community, and consumer behavior. Special attention will be paid throughout the course to the personal and social impact of current and emerging forms of communication and media.
Topically organized courses focused on selected problems, areas, and issues of special interest in Media and Film Studies. Topics vary depending upon specialization and research interests of the instructor.
Professional experience for juniors or seniors with substantial academic and cocurricular experience in the minor. With faculty sponsorship and program approval, students may extend their educational experience into such areas as journalism and communications, filmmaking, recording, and other related fields.
An introduction to a range of audio applications and ways of making in the sonic arts, including: multichannel sound (i.e. sound that comes out of more than 2 speakers), locative media (i.e. media played through mobile devices and triggered by apps that are location-aware), gallery installation, soundtracking and sound design for moving images (and other ways of thinking about “audio-vision”), the live performance and control capabilities of software like Ableton and Max. The course extends a presumed command of the basic toolkit of audio production (gained through prior course work or extracurricular experience in music production, audio documentary, filmmaking, sound design, or other digital time-based art), and thus is open to those with some past experience.
Topically organized courses focused on advanced subjects and methods of special interest in Media and Film Studies. Topics vary depending upon specialization and research interests of the instructor.
An opportunity for qualified minors to pursue independent study in Media and Film Studies under the supervision of and appropriate faculty member. The independent study proposal must be approved by the Media and Film Studies Director, in consultation with the faculty member.
Internship at an advanced level for students whose academic and cocurricular experience has prepared them for professional work in a field related to Media and Film Studies. With faculty sponsorship and program approval, students may extend their educational experience into such areas as journalism and communications, filmmaking, recording, and other related fields.
Note: Students who entered Skidmore prior to fall 2019 can review the individual disciplinary divisions on their degree audit.
Clusters
Cluster I: Media and Culture
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AA 201 | Foundations of Arts Administration | 3 |
| AA 205 | Introduction to Financial Management for the Arts | 3 |
| AA 223 | Museums Mean Business | 3 |
| AAMB 321 | Entertainment Law and Business | 4 |
| AAMF 323 | Law and Ethics for Storytelling in Media | 4 |
| AH 251C | 4 | |
| AH 318 | Asian Pop! | 4 |
| AH 321 | History Of Photography | 4 |
| AM 233 | Representations of the American Past in Film | 4 |
| AM 236 | 4 | |
| AM 261 | Themes in American Culture | 4 |
| AM 265 | Popular Culture | 4 |
| AM 351C | (Reading “The Wire”, Sports Cinema, American Science Fiction, American Horror Fiction) | 4 |
| or AM 351D | ||
| AM 355 | Magazines and Modernity | 4 |
| AM 356 | Sports Cinema | 4 |
| AN 201R | 4 | |
| CC 365 | Advanced Topics in Classical Civilization | 4 |
| DA 230 | Dance and Society I | 3 |
| DS 199A | 3 | |
| DS 201 | Principles of Documentary | 3 |
| DS 251 | Topics in Documentary Studies | 3 |
| DS 251B | 3 | |
| EN 228 | Special Studies: Form | 3 |
| EN 229 | Special Studies: Texts in Context | 3 |
| EN 229 | Special Studies: Texts in Context | 3 |
| EN 253 | Graphic Narratives and Comic Books | 3 |
| EN 326 | Special Studies in Contemporary U.S. Literature and Culture | 3 |
| EN 326P | 3 | |
| EN 364 | Advanced Special Studies in Literature and Language | 3 |
| GW 251D | 3 | |
| HI 251D | 3 | |
| MB 351C | 3 | |
| MU 345N | 4 | |
| PY 209 | Experimental Methods in Physics | 2 |
| SO 221 | Media Sociology | 3 |
| SO 251C | 3 | |
| SO 251A-D | 1-4 | |
| TH 103 | Introduction to Theater | 4 |
| WLL 239 | Japanese Popular Culture | 4 |
| WLL 244 | Viewing China: Visual Cultural and Transnational Cinema | 4 |
| WLL 252 | Italian Cinema: From Fiction to Film | 4 |
| WLL 255 | Introduction to Film Theory and Criticism | 4 |
| WLS 363 | Special Studies in Spanish (Projecting Spain) | 3 |
Cluster II: Applied Media
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AHDS 324 | The Artist Interview | 3 |
| AR 136 | Digital Foundations | 4 |
| AR 209 | Communication Design I | 4 |
| AR 210 | Digital Media I: Interactive Design | 4 |
| AR 229 | Photography I | 4 |
| AR 243 | Digital Media I: Animation | 4 |
| AR 262B | 4 | |
| AR 262J | Special Topics In Studio Art: Digital Media | 2 |
| AR 262G | Special Topics In Studio Art: Photography | 2 |
| AR 264B | 3 | |
| AR 264G | Special Topics In Studio Art: Photography | 4 |
| AR 264J | Special Topics In Studio Art: Digital Media | 4 |
| AR 307 | Communication Design II | 4 |
| AR 310 | Digital Media II: Advanced Project | 4 |
| AR 330 | Breaking Boundaries: Photography II | 4 |
| AR 337 | Communication Design III | 4 |
| AR 340 | Photography III | 4 |
| AR 351B | 4 | |
| AR 351G | Special Topics in Studio Art: Photography | 4 |
| AR 351J | Special Topics in Studio Art: Digital Media | 4 |
| DA 274 | Special Studies in Dance Theory and Appreciation | 4 |
| DS 110A | 1-2 | |
| or DS 110B | ||
| DS 111A | 1-2 | |
| or DS 111B | ||
| DS 112A | 1-2 | |
| or DS 112B | ||
| DS 113A | 1-2 | |
| or DS 113B | ||
| DS 114A | 1-2 | |
| or DS 114B | ||
| DS 115A | 1-2 | |
| or DS 115B | ||
| DS 119A | 1 | |
| DS 119A | 1 | |
| DS 202 | Documentary Studies Workshop | 3 |
| DS 251 | Topics in Documentary Studies | 3 |
| DS 251C | 3 | |
| DS 251D | 3 | |
| DS 251D | 3 | |
| DS 351B | 3 | |
| DS 351D | 3 | |
| DS 302 | Advanced Documentary Studies Workshop | 3 |
| DS 351 | Advanced Documentary Studies Workshop | 3 |
| ID 210 | Introduction to GIS | 4 |
| MB 351C | 3 | |
| SO 229 | Visual Sociology | 4 |
| SO 307 | Video Ethnography | 4 |
| TH 140 | Introduction to Directing | 3 |