Screen Studies Minor

Undergraduate Program

Clark offers one of the few undergraduate programs in the nation that specializes in screen studies, which deals with arts and artifacts of the moving two-dimensional image, usually combined with sound. It is concerned, in other words, with the study of film, television, video and evolving forms of digital visual media. The program offers both a major and a minor and stresses the importance of a liberal-arts background, for the screen arts touch upon and are affected by all sectors of contemporary culture and society. Screen studies provides a core of basic and advanced knowledge of the screen arts and media while encouraging students to explore diverse connections and influences, ranging from the visual arts, drama, literature and aesthetics to sociology, psychology, history and economics.

Nonmajors take screen-studies courses to acquire knowledge that relates to their interests in other disciplines, to gain a better understanding of the roles film and television play in their everyday lives or to understand the importance of the screen media as cultural and artistic forms. Those considering careers in the screen arts or related areas usually major in screen studies. In addition to being of special benefit for those planning graduate study or a career in the communications fields, the major also may be of interest to those seeking a liberal-arts education that speaks directly to questions of contemporary life, culture and the arts. Students interested in film and video production may take the program’s sequence of production courses and gain production experience through professional internships.

Program Faculty

Marcia Butzel, Ph.D.
Stephanie F. Larrieux, Ph.D.
Hugh Manon, Ph.D.

Adjunct Faculty

Marvin D’Lugo, Ph.D.

Part-Time Faculty

Cindy Conti, M.A.
Aslihan Tokgoz Onaran, Ph.D.
Michael Siegel , Ph.D.
Fred Simon, B.S.

Affiliate Faculty

Ya-chen Chen, Ph.D.

Courses

• CMLT 248 - Studies in Latin-American Cinema
• SCRN 101 - Foundations of Screen Studies
• SCRN 107 - Introduction to Digital Filmmaking
• SCRN 114 - Writing About Film: Methods of Film Analysis
• SCRN 119 - History of U.S. Film Until 1950
• SCRN 120 - History of U.S. Film Since 1950
• SCRN 121 - History of International Cinema until 1960
• SCRN 122 - History of American Broadcasting and Electronic Media
• SCRN 123 - Factual Film and Television
• SCRN 124 - History of International Cinema Since 1960
• SCRN 130 - Film Genre
• SCRN 131 - Film Noir and its Contexts
• SCRN 140 - Film Authors and Authorship
• SCRN 145 - Experimental Video Production
• SCRN 160 - Soundtracks
• SCRN 168 - Image Theory
• SCRN 208 - Advanced Digital ProductionNarrative Fiction
• SCRN 214 - Social and Cultural Issue Documentary Production
• SCRN 215 - Science Fiction Film: City of the Future
• SCRN 224 - World Cinema and Global Culture
• SCRN 225 - National Cinema
• SCRN 231 - Film Theory
• SCRN 250 - German Film and the Frankfurt School
• SCRN 252 - Asian Cinemas
• SCRN 260 - Global Television
• SCRN 261 - Critical Perspectives on Television
• SCRN 263 - Studies In French Cinema
• SCRN 284 - Film as Narration
• SCRN 288 - Gender and Film
• SCRN 290 - Capstone Course
• SCRN 291 - Capstone Course - Variable topics.
• SCRN 297 - Honors
• SCRN 298 - Internship
• SCRN 299 - Directed Study
• SPAN 246 - Studies in Spanish Cinema
• SPAN 249 - Studies in Hispanic Cinema
• TA 110 - Introduction to Screenwriting

Internships, Study Abroad

As an elective, one unit of internship credit (SCRN 298  ) can be counted toward the major. In past years, students have held internships with local and regional media concerns, such as WCCA-TV in Worcester and WHDH-TV in Boston, as well as independent production companies in New York and London. Students have also interned at a large, local archive of historic film posters and advertising. Majors have opportunities for study abroad, often by pursuing 3-4 units of academic course work and an internship during one semester. Clark’s London Program has been the primary sponsor for study abroad in the major.

Nonmajors

All of the courses, seminars and activities in the screen-studies program are open to qualified nonmajors. Students who have a strong interest in screen studies but whose major lies in another discipline can declare a minor in screen studies. The minor consists of six courses.