Courses

The Saturday Institute for Lifelong Learning - Film Studies at Wesleyan: Definition and Demonstration

Since the 1960s, scholars in both the humanities and the social sciences have recognized cinema as the most important of the new forms of art developed in the 20th century—one which has had a profound and pervasive effect on all of modern culture. The growth of film studies as an academic discipline testifies to the importance of examining film not just as a cultural artifact, but also as an influential art form and an industry of global significance. The model of scholarship in film studies at Wesleyan is in the liberal arts tradition of wedding history and theory with practice. Film majors study the motion picture in a unified manner, combining historical, formal, and cultural analysis with filmmaking at beginning and advanced levels in a variety of formats.

A full day in the Center for Film Studies begins with a talk on the origins and history of film studies and the Cinema Archives at Wesleyan by their founder, Jeanine Basinger. She will then be joined by film faculty members Steve Collins, Scott Higgins, and Marc Longenecker for further presentations. Participants will experience the film classroom as film students experience it and learn about the components that are integrated within this unique program of study. See and hear lectures from the film faculty, watch student films, and learn about the process of student filmmaking. Learn about the Wesleyan Film Series that is run by students for the university community and be invited to attend a film screening on Saturday evening.

The Rick Nicita Gallery will be open from noon to 4 p.m., and attendees are invited to enjoy the exhibition during lunch and afternoon breaks.

*Wesleyan University’s film studies department is one of the top-ranked film schools in the world according to The Hollywood Reporter’s July 2012 article on the top 25 international film schools. It counts many famous alumni within its ranks such as Michael Bay, Alex Kurtzman, Joss Whedon, and Benh Zeitlin.

Instructor: Jeanine Basinger, Steve Collins, Scott Higgins, Marc Longenecker

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Center for Film Studies, Wesleyan University

8:30-9am Registration; coffee

9-10:30am Origins and History of the Film Studies Department and the Wesleyan Cinema Archives with Jeanine Basinger

10:30-10:45am Break

10:45-noon The Cinematic Moment: A Glimpse Inside the Wesleyan Film Classroom with Jeanine Basinger, Steve Collins, and Scott Higgins

Noon-1pm Lunch (provided)

1-2:30pm Wesleyan Student Films: From the Production Classroom to the Screen with Steve Collins

2:30-3pm Break

3-4pm Behind the Scenes of the Wesleyan Film Series with Marc Longenecker

8-10:30 Saturday Night at the Film Series (optional)

Jeanine Basinger, Steve Collins, Scott Higgins, Marc Longenecker

Jeanine Basinger is the Corwin-Fuller Professor of Film Studies at Wesleyan. 

Steve Collins is an assistant professor of film studies at Wesleyan. 

Scott Higgins is an associate professor of film studies at Wesleyan. 

Marc Longenecker is a visiting instructor of film studies. 

Please see who's who for their full biographies.