Commonwealth Speakers:Cinema and Television
Robin Hood's image varies widely across film history, from this 1922 image to Mel Brooks' Men in Tights. Credit: Kevin J. Harty.
Unreal "Reel" Robin Hoods
Throughout the history of cinema, filmmakers have been fascinated by Robin Hood. Using a series of film clips, Kevin J. Harty examines the reasons behind this fascination and offers insights into the ways in which filmmakers interpret Robin Hood. Robin Hood figures of the American and Mexican West and the Far East, the comic-book heroic type whose skill as a bowman is copied and parodied in film after film, and the use of Robin Hood imagery - in the United States and abroad - to comment on the foreign and domestic policies of the U.S. government will all be investigated in this presentation. Requirements: TV and VCR. Rear projector preferred.
Kevin J. Harty, Ph.D., Chair, Department of English, La Salle University, Philadelphia
Living in Medieval Times
Modern movies and books romanticize the medieval period, focusing on the adventures of knights, the opulence of kings, and the tradition of chivalry. But how dark were the Dark Ages, really? Using film clips, Jamie Dessart will discuss how and why we romanticize this period, and will look at what life was really like for the court - and for everybody else. Requirements: DVD player, VCR and TV.
Jamie Dessart, Ph.D., Chair of English and Fine Arts, Waynesburg College, Washington
Everyone's a Critic
In today's media landscape, with print, radio, television, the Internet and DVDs all feeding the contemporary audience's hunger for information, discussion and debate about movies, the film critic is ubiquitous. Bill Wine leads a discussion of the contemporary film critic's form and function as well as the pitfalls and perks, the rigors and rewards of seeing virtually every new movie, then reporting one's responses and perceptions to an audience of readers, listeners, viewers and web surfers. Requirements: TV/VCR.
Bill Wine, Film Critic, KYW Newsradio, Associate Professor of Communications, La Salle University, Philadelphia
Teen Angst and Adolescent Recklessness in American Film
How the film industry presents youth is debated, hotly and often. Does Hollywood reflect youth culture, shape it, or both? Through a series of film clips from the 1950s through today, John Chapin will show how the depiction of adolescents has changed over time, and discuss how these depictions reflect the social norms of different eras as well as how film affects teen audiences. Requirements: TV, DVD player.
John Chapin, Ph.D., Communications Program Head, Pennsylvania State University, College System,
Monaca
The History of Horror in Film
Michael Cornelius takes audiences on a journey through the history of horror, focusing on the national and cultural roots of each movement. From German expressionism in the silent film era to the American slasher films of the 1980s, from the sci-fi phenomenon of the 1950s to the contemporary scene, audiences will learn how American and international culture affected and affects the popular horror genre. Requirements: Screen and LCD projector. Laptop computer preferred where available.
Michael G. Cornelius, Ph.D., Chair, Department of English and Mass Communications, Wilson College, Chambersburg
Pennsylvania Native: Hollywood Star
A surprising number of cinema's most well-known names have Pennsylvania connections. Of course, the prime example is the unforgettable Grace Kelly of East Falls in Philadelphia. But others include Gene Kelly of Pittsburgh and W.C. Fields, who, even though he famously besmirched it, grew up in Philadelphia. James Stewart was a native of Indiana, PA; Sixth Sense director M. Night Shyamalan makes his home in Montgomery County; David Morse, star of television's Hack, lives in Chestnut Hill. Accompanied by video excerpts, Moylan Mills will discuss the lives and careers of these and other Pennsylvanians, including Richard Gere, Nelson Eddy, Janet Gaynor, Don Taylor and Frankie Avalon. Requirements: TV/VCR and DVD player.
Moylan C. Mills, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Integrative Arts, Pennsylvania State University - Abington
Based on the Book: Best-Seller Cinema
The experiences of reading a book and watching a movie are so very different, comparing them seems like it's not quite right - yet it's impossible to avoid. People usually prefer one to the other, even though they know they're comparing literary apples with cinematic oranges. Bill Wine will talk about the psychological differences between the reading and viewing experiences, and analyze the way classic and modern novels have been translated into films - both memorable and terrible. Requirements: Screen.
Bill Wine, Film Critic, KYW Newsradio, Associate Professor of Communications, La Salle University, Philadelphia
Loving Lucy: How I Love Lucy Changed Network Television Forever
I Love Lucy is a revered television program that continues to make millions of Americans laugh, but its cultural importance is much broader than humor alone. When Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz created I Love Lucy, they created an entirely new way of filming and producing a network television program and played a substantial role in moving the production center of television from New York to Hollywood. Mark Zeltner will also explain how the show's presentation of both the first interracial couple on television and the first on-camera pregnancy expanded the possibilities of characters and storylines on TV. Requirements: TV, DVD player, Computer with PowerPoint and LCD projector.
Mark G. Zeltner, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Communication, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock