Published Dec. 3, 2008 by The Current Sauce
English majors at NSU can concentrate in folklife and southern studies, professional writing, literature - and now, film theory.
The Curriculum Review Council just approved the new film theory concentration, which will provide students with the opportunity to study and analyze aspects of classic and contemporary cinematography.
Allen Bauman and Andy Crank, two English professors at NSU, conceived the idea of a concentration, as well as a Classic and Unseen Cinema series that will be open to the public.
Both professors teach a few film classes already and will be offering more courses next semester.
"We've been talking about this for a long time," Bauman said.
They, along with others in the English department, taught sporadic film courses but did not have a film studies program, though many other universities in the state do, Crank said.
Crank said some students tend to look at film as something that "just washes over them." They don't analyze or digest it, and that's something Crank and Bauman both want to change.
"It's all about getting them to think analytically about film, so they're not just consumers of pop culture and consumers of film, but they're analytical thinkers about film," Crank said.
The professors are adding screening equipment - new seating, a large flat screen TV, DVD player and surround sound - to a room in Kyser Hall that they'll use for classes next semester.
Some students are already taking their film theory studies outside the classroom.
Roxie James, an instructor for the English department, and English major Katie Magana are submitting a paper to a pop culture conference on connections between the novel "Dracula" and the movie "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Bauman said.
Crank and Bauman are organizing a film library that will help them keep track of all the movies they'll show students in class. Among Bauman's films of choice are "Blade Runner," "Vertigo" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
Crank explained that even for scholars, these popular films are definitely worth watching.
"Sometimes people will look at 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' or 'Halloween' or something and say, 'Why are we studying this in an analytical way? There's nothing analytical about 'Halloween,'' but actually when you look at it there is a structure," Crank said. "And the way that it unfolds is within a larger film history and a larger theory and a larger paradigm, and if you start thinking analytically about that, I think that's important. I think that's an important tool for you to have."
Bauman said "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" marks a transition - moving from classic horror films like "Frankenstein" to the '80s slasher horror film genre. He encourages his students to watch the way the camerawork and lighting help to highlight characters' emotions.
Crank said his film theory class might watch "The Big Lebowski" when discussing how the narrator functions in film.
Bauman and Crank both said they love film and have been teaching film theory courses for years. These professors' interesting perspectives may provide cues for a film department at NSU.
The film theory concentration will not offer classes that teach students how to use professional cameras or make films of their own, though Crank said such courses may eventually become part of the curriculum.
Bauman and Crank both attended undergraduate and graduate schools offering film study programs and foreign film clubs. Crank said he would like to start up a similar organization at NSU to supplement the concentration.
In Crank's film theory class, students watch "Donnie Darko," "Election" and "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and analyze them according to time period and context.
"Ideally, students that graduate with this concentration, when they see a film, should be able to place it within an appropriate culture, within an appropriate time period," Crank said.
Crank serves as director of undergraduate studies, while Bauman is director of graduate studies.
