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Introduction to Studies in Cinema and Media Culture: Studies in Cinema and Media Culture 1201

Film, television, the media and more!

Have you ever wondered why films always seem to have a love story? Or why cable stations air the same film over and over again? Or why television screens seem to be everywhere you look? In Introduction to Studies in Cinema and Media Culture, you’ll get the answer to all of these questions... and more!

Stephen Groening, a professor in the cultural studies and comparative literature department, teaches Introduction to Studies in Cinema. This course teaches students the theories, concepts, and methods people use to study and analyze media culture. Professor Groening helps students learn the concepts with regular small group discussions and in-class exercises that help his students apply what they’ve learned in class to different forms of contemporary culture like television, films, music, the Internet, video games, and magazine ads.



Students in this course have the opportunity to design their own research project about an aspect of cinema and media culture that resonates with them. It’s a great opportunity for students to have fun and be creative with their research. Because the students choose their own topics, past projects have examined everything from music videos and reality television to social networking sites and advertising campaigns. Examples include television shows like The Office and One Tree Hill; films like Transformers and Twilight; and social networking Web sites like Facebook.

Want to learn more?

Read more about Professor Stephen Groening.

Learn more about a major in Studies in Cinema and Media Culture.

Discover more about the University’s support of Film and Cinema.

Nonverbal Communication: Communication Studies 3409

Welcome to the world of Nonverbal Communication! Did you know that a minimum of 65 percent of all communication is nonverbal in nature? Think of all the conversations that you have in a single day... it just goes to show that we live in a verbal culture. Yet, every conversation we have is seeped in nonverbal cues from one person to another. The way we dress, eat, stand, sit, gesture, or even smell sends messages to the people around us. In Nonverbal Communication, students will get to explore this topic and examine just what their nonverbal cues say to the world around them.

Communication Studies professor Susanne M. Jones, recipient of multiple awards for her research in the field of communication, is one instructor of Nonverbal Communication. She’s been teaching the course for over six years and it’s extremely popular amongst students. “Students truly enjoy this class and it’s very, very useful,” Susanne says, “To my knowledge, it’s the only course of that nature on campus.”

In the first half of her course, students will begin to navigate the structure of nonverbal communication centered on codes such as:

Haptics (touch)

Proxemics (personal distance)

Olfatics (smell)

Chronemics (time)

In the second half of the course, students explore how these nonverbal codes work together in different contexts, settings, and cultures. Students can expect Susanne to use multiple teaching tools to help them learn like in-class discussions and a research paper. At the end of the semester, students will not only walk away with an understanding of nonverbal cues, but will better understand its role in the process of communicating with others.

Want to learn more?

Read more about Susanne Jones.

Learn more about the Communication Studies department.

Test your knowledge of Nonverbal Communication, click on this link: Nonverbal Communication Quiz .

Recycle Your Way to Fortune and Fame: Chemistry 1905

Paper, Aluminum, and More

From aluminum cans to cardboard boxes, it’s really easy to recycle. Putting a can, bottle, or box in a recycling bin instead of a trash can truly does contribute to the longevity of the planet. But how many people know what actually happens to their recyclables after they land in the recycling bin? Under the direction of chemistry professor Wayland Noland, freshmen students at the U of M can learn the ins and outs of the recycling/reuse industry.

Professor Noland, who has taught in the U of M’s chemistry department for over 50 years, would be the first person to tell you that recycling extends far beyond metal, paper, and cardboard. Students in his freshman seminar class, Recycle Your Way to Fortune and Fame, discover that just about anything can be recycled or reused. Many class sessions are held at recycling destinations around the Twin Cities; these field trips give students a first-hand look at the recycling that’s happening right in their backyard.

In past semesters, students have visited the Minneapolis Animal Care and Control Center (recycled pets), used bookstores around the U of M campus (recycled books), and the University Computer Services Recycling Center (recycled computers). Of course, students also visit more “traditional” recycling sites, such as the main recycling facility at the U of M. To complete the course, all students must develop a final paper and presentation based on a recycling-related topic of their choosing.

Since this course is a freshman seminar, it is only open to first-year students. The class size is limited to 20 students, giving everybody an opportunity to interact one-on-one with the professor and get to know fellow classmates.

Want to learn more?

Read more about Professor Wayland Noland.

Explore opportunities at the U of M in the physical sciences.

Learn about the University of Minnesota’s recycling programs.

Bollywood: Popular Indian Cinema: Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies 1904

From Hollywood to Bollywood

What country produces the most films each year? If you guessed the United States, you are wrong! Every American has heard of Hollywood, but few people have heard about Bollywood, the cinema system from India that is popular throughout the world. Here at the University of Minnesota, students can explore many diverse topics... and Bollywood is one of them!

In this class, instructor Jinga Desai introduces students to many aspects of Indian culture in the cinema system. Bollywood films are filled with lavish productions, popular film stars, and multiple dance numbers—three aspects that are bound to make watching them an enjoyable experience. Through watching old and new films in English and Hindi (with subtitles), students examine the intricacies of these films and learn to apply each film’s lessons to real world contexts. Discussion focuses on what Bollywood films can tell us about history, politics, economics, and society.

Through her passion for this industry, Jinga hopes her students learn the impacts the Bollywood industry will continue to have on global popular culture. With the different themes that Bollywood films have and the sheer producing power of the industry, its effect on worldwide films in the future are bound to be monumental. In Bollywood, students will ponder about the ways that this industry is transforming entertainment into a cultural lesson.

Want to learn more?

• Read more about Jinga Desai and her thoughts on race and gender in films.
• Learn more about the Department for Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies.

Freshman Seminar: My Other Car is a Bicycle

Exploring Bicycle-based Transportation

R. Lee Penn is a chemistry professor with a passion for bicycles as a form of alternative transportation. So when she was given the opportunity to teach something closely related to her everyday life, there was no hesitation; she was going to teach a course about bicycles! In this Freshman Seminar, students have the opportunity to get to know the U of M campus and surrounding community in a completely unique way—by bicycle! Penn’s focus of this class is the importance of bicycles as a form of alternative transportation. Not only do students learn about how the use of bicycles can be environmentally friendly, they get to embody it.

Students can expect class sessions to be spilt into two parts. The first half of class is spent in discussion of current topics regarding alternative transportation, while the second half of the session is spent exploring the city by bicycle. From biking to downtown Minneapolis and places like Midtown Greenway to discovering new ways to quickly get around campus, students have the opportunity to have fun while learning about important environmental issues.

Penn likes to create assignments that are practical and relatable to real-life scenarios. For instance, students are asked to find examples of alternative transportation in local newspaper articles. Then in class, students engage in how these issues affect their surroundings.

As Penn’s course is a freshman seminar, students can look forward to a small class size as well as the opportunity to get to know their instructor very well.

Ready to learn to look beyond cars as a main source of transportation? In this class, get ready to ride your way to learning!

Want to learn more?

• Read more about Instructor R. Lee Penn.
• Learn more about biking on the U of M campus.

People of Color and the Mass Media: Journalism 3741

Exploring race in Journalism

Have you ever wondered about the day-to-day struggles that Robin Robinson and Ann Curry face as women of color on television? It’s a complicated topic filled with the potential for engaging talks. Luckily, at the University of Minnesota, you have the opportunity to explore this intriguing area of journalism through a class called People of Color and the Mass Media offered through the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

People of Color seeks to explore the important concept of race in today’s society. From newspapers and magazines to television and the Internet, issues regarding people of color in America are always present. This course seeks to give students the terminology to talk about topics related to people of color in the mass media and about race issues in society.

Miranda Brady and Catherine Squires are both professors of People of Color. They have a great passion for studying how people of color are represented in today’s media and enjoy talking about the topic with students. In People of Color, students can expect not only to challenge themselves with discussions on race, ethnicity, class, and gender but learn how it fits into today’s society as well as what it means for the future.

Students can also expect a diverse class atmosphere with guest speakers on different topics relating to the coursework such as rap and African dance. Assignments give students the opportunity to get out into the local community to experience an event that deals with issues of race.

Intrigued? Ready for a challenge? This course is available to students studying any major!

Want to know more?

• Learn more about the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
• Read more about how to major in Journalism.

Service Learning in the Chicano/Latino Community: Chicano Studies 1275

Learn Beyond the Classroom

Between class, work, and social activities, some college students discover that it’s difficult to find time for volunteer work. Fortunately, there are classes at the U of M that allow students to give back to the community while earning college credit. Service Learning in the Chicano/Latino Community offers students the chance to learn both inside and outside the classroom.

Course instructor Kathleen Ganley has two decades of experience working within the Chicano/Latino community; she developed and began teaching the Service Learning in the Chicano/Latino Community class eight years ago. The course focuses on some of the challenges faced by Chicanos/Latinos when it comes to education—topics include equality, language, and higher education.

The “service learning” portion of the class takes place at one of three locations within the Twin Cities: La Escuelita, Academia Cesar Chavez, or Edison High School. Students are expected to volunteer for a total of 42 hours during the semester, which amounts to about 3 hours each week. At the end of the course, students leave with a fresh outlook about the importance of service—as well as a new perspective of the Chicano/Latino community in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Want to learn more?

Visit the Web site for the Department of Chicano Studies at the U of M.

Explore U of M majors and programs related to languages and cultures.

What is the Human Mind?: Psychology 1905

It’s Mind Blowing!

Featured Class: What’s about the size of a cantaloupe, wrinkled like a walnut, and generates enough watts to power a light bulb? That’s right, it’s your brain! There has been plenty of research on the brain as an organ in our bodies. What makes things a tad more complicated is the mind. Have you ever wondered: “How do humans think?” or “How do we have the ability to multi-task?”

With too much thinking on this complex topic, anyone can get a headache. One person who doesn’t get headaches thinking about the mind is Chad Marsolek, instructor of the freshman seminar, What is the Human Mind?

In this seminar, students will spend the semester discovering new realms of the mind. Chad will focus on exploring the mind through engaging class discussions, allowing for students interact with him and each other every time class is in session. Through the two course readings, students will gain knowledge about the mind that will enhance class discussions and extend beyond the classroom.

With the chance to learn through discussion rather than a lecture, get ready for a class that will blow your mind! This seminar is exclusively available to first-year students giving them the opportunity to get to know Chad and each other very well. Maybe you will discover how his mind works...

Want to learn more?

• Read more about Chad Marsolek.
• Learn more about programs in Psychology available at the U of M.

Urban Youth and Youth Issues: Youth Studies 2101

Our Next Generation

Featured Class: Across this country and the world, young adults are often the focus of movies and television shows. Much time and effort is spent trying to influence them to listen to certain music or wear certain clothes. From family to school to work, youths today are finding themselves busier than ever before. The pressure on youths has grown too—parents want to see their son or daughter attend college and eventually succeed.

Just what does it mean to be a youth in our current society? What are the dreams (and the concerns) of young people today? Urban Youth and Youth Issues seeks to examine these important issues and topics. The course is taught by Terrance Kwame-Ross, founder of New City School, a public charter school in Minneapolis. Kwame-Ross aims to provide insights about Twin Cities youth—the population with whom he has direct experience—as well as youths from all walks of life.

The Urban Youth and Youth Issues course is a requirement for the Youth Studies major at the U of M, but can also be taken by any student interested in learning more about today’s young people. Students majoring in Youth Studies at the U of M focus on the everyday lives of young people and engage with urban youth and other young populations. Within the major, students gain a global perspective on youth and have opportunities to do real-life work in the field.

Want to learn more?

• Read more about the Youth Studies major at the U of M.
• Explore other majors available through the U of M’s College of Education & Human Development.

Players in the Game: Postsecondary Teaching and Learning 1281

Take a look at the good life...

Featured Class: Some people look at life as a long, drawn-out game. There are twists and turns, chutes and ladders, strategic moves that give us the advantage, or cards that can take away all that we have worked for. People keep score and use certain characters, play fair, and even use trickery to get ahead. In Players in the Game, students take a semester to learn about the “games” we all play to get ahead and use to figure out the people we are supposed to become.

Players in the Game gives students an opportunity to get to know each other—and their course content—on a deeper level. Players is a combination of two academic courses with a common theme. In this combination, African American literature and psychology come together to examine how people play “games” in their everyday lives. Through the fundamentals learned from the psychology class and the stimulating books read in the African American literature class, students will be ready to integrate what they have learned.

Instructor of the African American literature class, Na’im Madyum, brings a new perspective to the table for students. With both a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, he strives to help his students learn how people play their games and why people make certain moves.

Throughout the semester, students will play a game that will include elements from both classes in the learning community. To further their understanding, students have the opportunity to create their own game that according to Na’im will be “inspired by their own experiences” and incorporate everything that they are learning in the classroom. Add in reflective writings and open discussions that are used to “address and examine normality, development, social pressure, love, fear, and other factors” and students will soon realize why life is more than just a game.

Intrigued? With this class, get ready to play games... and learn!

Want to learn more?

• Read more about instructor Na’im Madyum.
• Learn more about Learning Communities available at the University of Minnesota.