Communication and Cinema

Associate Professors Brett, Lemieux, Slade, and Vance (Department Chair); Assistant Professor Trader; Adjunct Lecturers Bigwood, Hospelhorn, and Willard.

Areas of particular teaching interest: Professor Lemieux: interpersonal communication, health communication, shark hunting, organizational culture; Professor Professor Slade: television and film production, script writing, and film analysis; Professor Trader: Computer mediated communication, message design, instructional communication; Professor Vance: intercultural communication, media and culture, media analysis and criticism, critical theories, rhetorical analysis.

The communication paradigm places communication at the nexus of all human endeavor and perceives all other disciplines as dependent on it. A communication perspective looks at how the world is constructed in terms of human interaction. In the field of Communication we look at meaning as well as messages, whether verbal, nonverbal, or visual; the nature of the message source; the context in which the message exists; and all that goes into creating, sending, and receiving the message.

Along with public speaking and rhetoric, television, radio and film emerge from oral traditions. However, our courses also place a strong emphasis on writing. Not only will students be expected to write analyses in the 3000-level courses and most of our other courses, they will also write term papers in our two research and capstone courses. Students who pursue the film minor have the option of writing, producing, filming, editing and screening a 30-minute film as their capstone project.

Other Educational Options in Communication: Minors in Communication, Film and Video Studies.

Filmmaking Apprenticeship: Juniors and Seniors who have completed the Film and Video Studies Minor may also pursue an advanced, highly independent course of study by directing a 30+ minute film or digital video featurette (fiction or documentary) during a Jan Term Filmmaking Practicum or in Senior Seminar (permission of instructors required). Students must apply to be part of the Filmmaking Apprenticeship and need to provide their own camera and editing gear for their capstone project.

Please see the Dual Major section in this catalog for dual majors with Art, English, Foreign Languages, Sociology, or Theatre Arts.

Please see the Education section under Curriculum in this catalog for teacher certification requirements in Communication.

Departmental Honors

Awarding of honors is determined by the Communication Department faculty. All courses are four credits unless otherwise noted.