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Film & Media Studies

Department Overview

Film and media are crucial and pervasive dimensions of contemporary culture. The development of formal understanding, historical knowledge, and critical literacy about media texts, technologies, and practices is central to a liberal arts education in the twenty-first century. The Department of Film and Media Studies offers classes that explore the history, theory, aesthetics, and social and cultural aspects of media forms including cinema, television, online video, digital games, and media art. The program teaches research and analytical methods as well as digital production skills and approaches and encourages cross-cultural comparisons as well as attention to audiences and institutions. Our hybrid curriculum blends critical studies with critical making, often within the same course.

Swarthmore Student Film Highlights

Students at the premiere of Television Studies' mockumentary, Swat-More.

Victor Pineiro

Victor Piñeiro '00 gives a talk on career paths to students.

Isabel Sandoval Q&A after screening of Lingua Franca

Students attend Q&A with writer/director and star Isabel Sandoval after a screening of her film, Lingua Franca.

Noah Lang '10 of Witchcraft Motion Picture Company gives a talk, Practical Producing 101.

Sunka Simon Introducing Nosferatu at Screening.

FMST Chair Sunka Simon introducing the film Nosferatu before screening with live organ accompaniment by Andrew Hauze.

Photo by Larry Kesterson
Screening of Understory (dir. Jake Rothman '23 and Manny Rothman, 2022).

Screening of Understory (dir. Jake Rothman '23 and Manny Rothman, 2022).

FMST 009 Women and Popular Culture class field trip at AMC Theatres.

FMST 009 Women and Popular Culture night out at the movies.

Associate Professor Rodney Evans And Rubing Zhang '22 at Outfest40

Associate Professor Rodney Evans and Rubing Zhang '22 at the world premiere of Zhang's short film, WUSS, at Outfest40 Los Angeles.

Associate Professor Rodney Evans, Julian Turner '18, and Kyungchan Min '18 at the world premiere of short film, MAY, at SXSW.

Associate Professor Rodney Evans, Julian Turner '18, and Kyungchan Min '18 at the world premiere of short film, MAY, at SXSW. MAY was directed by Turner with Min as cinematographer.

John Cameron Mitchell answers student questions after film screening.

Director, actor, screenwriter, and playwright, John Cameron Mitchell, answers student questions after a screening of his cult classic creation, Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Alumni Teddy Pozo '09 and Claudia Lo '16 present to students during FMST's Queer Game Day event.

Alumni Teddy Pozo '09 and Claudia Lo '16 present to students during FMST's Queer Game Day event.

Associate Professor Rodney Evans accepting the Frameline Award from Executive Director Paul Struthers.

Associate Professor Rodney Evans accepting the Frameline Award from Executive Director Paul Struthers.

Photo by Pamela Gentile

Students at the premiere of Television Studies' mockumentary, Swat-More.

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"What Makes a Movie the Greatest of All Time?"

What makes a movie one of the greatest? How have the top films changed over the decades? Find out here!

Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
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