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.
Film & Media Studies

Department Overview
Swarthmore Student Film Highlights
"What Makes a Movie the Greatest of All Time?"
NYT article on Sight and Sound's top 100 filmsWhat makes a movie one of the greatest? How have the top films changed over the decades? Find out here!
