Lights, camera, action: U. creates Film Studies minor

Thanks to the creation of a new interdisciplinary program, Penn's list of alumni might soon include the next Steven Spielberg or even a big-shot Hollywood executive. Effective this semester, the University is offering a Film Studies minor, which allows students to take film courses in various academic departments -- and have the concentration noted on their record for the first time. "The idea is to give students a sense of film culture," said Italian Professor Milicent Marcus, who will serve as the program's director. According to Marcus -- the Mariano DiVito Professor of Italian Studies and former director of the University of Texas' Film Studies program -- the new minor indicates that studying film is now considered a "serious academic endeavor" among college students and faculty. The Film Studies minor requires at least seven course units, including two introductory courses: Film Studies 101, entitled "History of Film," and Film Studies 102, entitled "Reading Film." Marcus, a renowned expert on Italian cinema, said students can complete the minor by taking two different types of courses. Some of the courses are "primarily dedicated to film," such as "Masterpieces of French Cinema" and "Topics in Film and Literature." The second category includes courses that are "more loosely related to film," such as "History of Photography." Penn currently offers film courses in several language departments -- including French, German, Japanese and Italian -- as well as in the English Department. Although the minor is specifically intended to educate students about film as an art form, English Professor John Katz said students might also learn tangible skills and knowledge that could benefit them after graduation. "[Film] students are extremely keen and extremely well-motivated. I think, if they want, they'll be able to enter the industry in some form or another," said Katz, who is currently teaching English 92, "Film History and Theory," as well as English 292, "Directors of Comedy Cinema." Marcus said student input will be an integral aspect of the new program. A soon-to-be-formed Undergraduate Advisory Board for the Film Studies minor will work in conjunction with the faculty, advising professors on course offerings and publicizing relevant events. College junior Eugene Kwack, who will head the student committee, said that "commitment and interest in film studies at the University" is the primary criterion for joining the advisory board. Members do not have to be minors, Kwack said, adding that he hopes to get applications from diverse students of any year who have varied interests. Since the minor is newly developed, University officials are not sure whether a Film Studies major will be a future option. "It is my expectation that some time in the near future we would move to expand the program and make Film Studies a major," said Richard Beeman, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "But obviously, we need to be assured that our smaller scale efforts are successful before doing that," Beeman added. English majors already have the option of pursuing a concentration of "Film, Literature and Theory" within the major.

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