Spring Term courses incorporate film into curriculum
Spring Term courses at the University of Indianapolis will begin March 3 and continue through March 21.
The pervading theme this year appears to be film. Seven classes have ‘film’ or ‘movie’ in their titles, and still more will utilize films throughout the course.
“Spring Term is a unique opportunity for students and professors,” said Associate Professor James Fuller, who teaches civil war in film. “The format allows me to teach a film course. The regular schedule makes showing films very difficult. I chose to teach this class because it brings together my passions for history with my love of movies.”
Other professors concur with Fuller’s view.
“I have had a personal and professional interest in film for as long as I can remember,” said professor Gregory Clapper, whose work in film inspired him to teach Hollywood Narrative Films. “I am a philosopher and theologian at heart, so using films like ‘Groundhog Day’ to invite people to think about breaking out of our self-centered routines and find meaning in life, or showing “Amadeus” and “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” to illustrate the corrosive power of envy and greed, respectively, makes for potentially life-changing viewing.”
Assistant professor Christine Bentley was inspired by the TBS television series “Dinner and a Movie” to create her Spring Term course Lunch and a Movie.
“The course combines food and film in such a way as to offer a multi-sensory, interactive, cultural experience,” Bentley said. “Students have an opportunity to watch international films from nine different countries: Egypt, England, India, Germany, Greece, France, Turkey, Japan, and Italy. After viewing each film, we go off campus to discuss the content of the film at a restaurant that serves each country’s native cuisine.”
Associate Professor Stephen Maple will be teaching WWII: Film, Fact, Fiction. His class will be viewing such popular films as “Schindler’s List” and the U.S. government-commissioned “Why We Fight” series of propaganda films.
“World War II was one of the epic changes in our history and should be better known. It seemed like a good fit and should interest our students,” Maple said.
Students are warned not to underestimate the serious nature of these classes.
“Some seem surprised that I actually assign a book in the class. I think some expect a Spring Term class to be one where merely showing up gets them an A,” said Assistant Professor Chad Martin, who teaches Pop Culture in the Cold War.
Students can check the enrollment status of all Spring Term classes by accessing their My UIndy account and proceeding to the Self –Service banner.
