Gopher Blog

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.

Discover Dinkytown

As you may know, I spent my first year and a half on campus living in Centennial Hall. Since moving out of Centennial, I have lived in my sorority house which is located near Dinkytown.

What is Dinkytown?
Dinkytown is a collection of shops, coffee houses, entertainment venues, salons, and restaurants located in a four-block area just north of the University’s East Bank. When I first heard about Dinkytown, I wondered how the area got its unique name. According to legend, it was named after the trolleys and rail cars that were commonly seen in the area, nicknamed “dinkys.” The truth is that no one really knows how Dinkytown got its name and many different stories exist as to how the town came to be. In my opinion, this makes Dinkytown even more unique: a place for U of M students to call their own--filled with history, lore, and eclectic neighborhood charm.

Creative cuisine
When most U of M students think of Dinkytown, the first thing that comes to mind is food. In just a four-block area, Dinkytown boasts 36 different restaurants! Of course, it has popular chains like Potbelly’s Sandwiches, Jimmy Johns, Pizza Hut, and McDonald’s. But what makes Dinkytown unique are the one-of-a-kind restaurants that bring the U of M its own local flavor.

There’s Annie’s Parlor, home to the best malts on campus. If you’re looking for Asian cuisine, you can have scrumptious meals at Sueng Cheng or Pagoda. The Loring Pasta Bar is great for a special occasion, sit-down Italian meal. Al’s Breakfast is a Dinkytown legend that seats just 14 people. Though small, I’ve heard they serve the best breakfast in the area, and judging by the lines outside on weekend mornings it’s true! (I haven’t been there yet, but it’s on my list of things to do before I graduate next spring.)

Last, but certainly not least, is Mesa Pizza. Widely known for its macaroni and cheese pizza, Mesa Pizza serves up a wide and unique variety of pizza, including steak and fries, taco, lasagna, chicken teriyaki, chicken quesadilla (my personal favorite), and many more. Many students might say that Mesa is at the top of their list of Dinkytown favorites!

Arts and Entertainment

This historic Varsity Theater is a landmark in Dinkytown and has hosted popular bands like The Fray, the Plain White T’s, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Goo Goo Dolls, Motion City Soundtrack, and much more. Also, throughout Dinkytown there are painted murals. When walking through the streets, they are like small surprises of art. Check out a couple pictures I took of them below:

On my way to work the other day, I noticed something new that I could see from Dinkytown… the TCF Bank Stadium! This made the idea of having a stadium back on campus even more of a reality. I have driven by the stadium many times before, but to see it in the distance from a place I visit on a daily basis during the school year was very exciting. It’s a new addition to the sights of Dinkytown for future generations of U of M students. Check out the view below!

With all the charm of a local neighborhood and an exciting U of M campus feel, Dinkytown is a great place to visit! Stop by on your trip to campus!

~ Trisha

Sweet summertime

With the conclusion of the spring semester already over a week behind us, I think it’s safe to say that summer has arrived! If you are new to this blog, welcome! You can learn more about me by reading my first Gopher Blog entry here!

Summer 2008
While fall and spring semesters are the busiest time around campus, summer brings many opportunities for U of M students. For example, last summer, I went on a three-week study abroad trip to Cape Town, South Africa.





In Cape Town, I traveled, walked with giraffes on a safari, studied at a local university, and participated in a home-stay experience in the township of Gugulethu. It was a truly amazing and once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Read all about it here!)

Summer 2009
This summer, I’m focusing on my internship here in the Office of Admissions. During my internship, I’m able to put my University education to work in helping to manage and coordinate communications for multiple admissions events. Plus, I have the opportunity to improve my writing skills by giving you an inside look at my life here on campus and as a university student with this blog. My internship is a great way to stay active on campus during the summer as well as prepare for my career after graduation.

An oasis in a metropolis
The summer season also gives university students some time to take a break from studying and enjoy the endless opportunities that come with warmer Minnesota weather. One of my favorite places to go in the Twin Cities is Lake Calhoun, part of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. To me, it’s like an oasis within the metropolis of Minneapolis. There are paths that surround the lake for people to take a jog or a leisurely stroll on the lake. You can swim, sunbathe, rent paddle boats and kayaks, or simply lie on a blanket and read a good book.

Summer in the Cities
I also enjoy visiting galleries like the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, or the Weisman Art Museum (which is right here on campus). Many of my friends enjoy going to Minnesota Twins baseball games as their stadium is a short bus ride away from campus. The Guthrie Theater has wonderful performances, and the Minnesota Zoo always has fun exhibits with animals from all over the world. I love the Twin Cities during the summer because it is always an alive and active place—no matter what your interest, you’re bound to find something you’d like to do.

The University of Minnesota is alive and buzzing with activity on campus during the summer. It’s a great time to visit and discover what it is like to be a U of M student. In fact, we have some special Sneak Preview events happening over the next couple months. Each event showcases a different U of M college and the majors that it offers. Read more about Sneak Preview events here!

Stay tuned for more entries about what’s happening on campus and my summer adventures!

~ Trisha

Finals Week

I can’t believe it—the end of spring semester is almost here!

You may remember two of my previous entries, “Midterm Crunch,” and “Crunch!” in which I wrote about what midterms and finals are like here at the University. Luckily, finals week this semester isn’t too difficult for me. I just have one final exam and a paper due during the actual week of finals, because most of my end-of-semester assignments were due back in April.

For example, I turned in a 30-page case study about Sharpie’s “Write Out Loud” advertising campaign for a class called Cases in Strategic Planning and Thinking. I also gave a presentation about the campaign to my class on May 5. I’ve never spent so much time on a project, but I am pleased with the end result—I earned an “A” on my paper!

Gosh, it seems just yesterday that I was telling you about the first week of my junior year. Now it’s almost over! I am very much looking forward to summer to relax, spend time with family and friends, and tell you more about what’s happening on the U of M campus.

Hope you are enjoying a beautiful spring, wherever you are!

~ Trisha

My University Housing Experience

I spent my first year on campus in Centennial Hall, a residence hall located on the “Superblock.” The Superblock is a group of four residence halls clustered together on a single block of campus. It makes college living a fun experience because the area is always alive and buzzing with activity. Plus, the two freshmen-only residence halls, Territorial Hall and Frontier Hall, are located there.

My first semester in Centennial was spent with three other roommates: Jessica from Chicago, Illinois; Amy from Champlin, Minnesota; and Jessica from Virginia, Minnesota. We shared a large lounge room at the end of our hallway. Our room was a part of a “house” of students that shared a community advisor, Scott. Scott, an upperclassman, was a great resource for finding out what was happening on campus. He also organized get-to-know-you events for our house, like ice cream socials. Scott encouraged me to join Centennial Hall Council, which is like a student council for the residence hall. It was one of the first ways I got involved on campus

After fall semester, I moved into a single room on the fifth floor of the building and had the opportunity to meet and live with a new community of people. It was great getting to know so many people in my hall and seeing so many familiar faces really made me feel at home at the University! Here are a couple of pictures of my room. {Ignore the mess… I was a messy person during my first year on campus. This has changed since. :)}







One of the aspects of Centennial Hall that I enjoyed most was the dining hall. For starters, the dining hall is located in the basement of the building and is open until midnight on most days. During my second semester on campus I had a night class, so coming home to Centennial to eat afterward was a great option. Centennial was also close to many places that I went on a near-daily basis, like classroom buildings, the University Recreation Center, and Coffman Memorial Union. Plus, catching a bus to the West Bank for class or St. Paul to visit a friend in Bailey Hall was easy—a bus stop was less than a 5 minute walk away.

When I decided to attend the U of M, I didn’t originally intend to live on campus. But the decision to live on campus, especially in the Superblock, turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in my college career. I highly recommend it! There isn’t a better way to meet new people, explore new things, and get involved on campus.

~ Trisha

p.s. Stay tuned…next week I’ll be writing about the U of M’s main event for spring semester—Spring Jam!

A Typical Wednesday

So far, I’ve told you many things about my overall experience at the U of M. But what do I do on a typical day? Here’s a glimpse into my life on a typical Wednesday:

9:30 a.m. - Time for breakfast! In high school, I never used to like breakfast. But when I came to the University, I found that breakfast prepared in the residence halls (my hall was Centennial Hall) was delicious and a great way to start my day. Though I don’t live in a residence hall anymore, I do enjoy a couple of chocolate chip waffles at my sorority house, Kappa Alpha Theta, and reading the newspaper before leaving for class.



10:10 a.m. - My first class of the day, Introduction to Rhetorical Theory. I’m enjoying this course because it’s giving me a theoretical approach to writing and speaking—two concepts that I will be using frequently in my future public relations career.



11:15 a.m. - My second class of the day,Nonverbal Communication. My professor is a bubbly lady who is passionate about all communication without words. This might be one of my favorite courses that I have taken at the University because it’s such a unique topic.

12:15 p.m. - Public Relations Writing is my last class of the day. This class has been a great opportunity to develop my writing skills for real-world scenarios. For instance, I just turned in a feature article about a woman who donates blood through the American Red Cross. My instructor coordinated with the external communications director at the organization, and they’ll be using my article in their communications!

1:30 p.m. - Arrive at the Office of Admissions. As a student employee here, I used to call students like you to chat about college life at the U of M. Now, I’m doing communications work like writing this blog or articles about classes. It’s been a great opportunity to put the knowledge I’ve learned as a student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication to use.



5:15 p.m. - It’s back to the School of Journalism for a student organization meeting. I’m a member of Public Relations Student Society of America, or PRSSA for short. I joined this group as a way to learn more about the public relations field. I’m part of the sponsorship and philanthropy committee and we are working on a recycling drive for the month of April. All proceeds from the drive are being donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.



6:30 p.m. - Arrive back home at my sorority house. Usually, I take an hour or so to eat dinner and relax before starting my homework for the evening.



7:45 p.m. - Time for homework! Sometimes I leave my house and go to the library or a local coffee shop to do homework. Other times, I work at my desk. The nice about doing homework in a sorority house is having many people to study with and keep me motivated. By midnight, I’m ready to call it day!



There you have it: A typical Wednesday in my life!

~ Trisha

Why the U of M?

It’s March at the U of M and that means two things: midterm season and an unpredictable mix of spring and winter weather. My week was going to be difficult with multiple tests and assignments, but today one of my instructors extended a due date for an assignment which gives me more time in my schedule. Next week, I’m looking forward to spring break to take some time to relax and spend time with family and friends.

Some of you might be up to other things besides midterms, like deciding where you want to attend college in the fall. Choosing the college you’ll attend is a big decision. When I was deciding where I wanted to go to school, I had a few main concerns: Did the college have the major I wanted? Could I get involved and would I fit in? Would I be able to have the experience I envisioned?

In the end, the U of M was definitely a great fit for me. I’m happily studying public relations and communications studies. I’m very involved in my sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, and have been involved in other student groups throughout my time on campus.

To give you some additional perspective, check out these videos to hear why some of my friends decided to attend the University of Minnesota:

Paige - sophomore



Michelle - senior in high school



Allie - freshman



~ Trisha

Ryan from “The Office” Performs at the U of M!

Pop quiz! From what popular TV show is the following quote?

“If I had to, I could clean out my desk in five minutes... and nobody would ever know I'd ever been here. And I'd forget too. [Sighs].”

Guessed it? It’s Ryan Howard, temp at Dunder Mifflin Paper Supply Company from the Emmy award winning hit comedy, The Office. This show is my favorite comedy on TV, so I was excited to hear that B.J. Novak, the person who plays Ryan on The Office, is performing on the U of M campus this weekend!

The event is sponsored by the Minnesota Programs and Activities Council (MPAC), an organization on campus that plans diverse events for students. They’ve brought in Novak for a stand-up comedy show this Saturday night, March 7th. All students attending the show have a great opportunity to see a hilarious comedian at home on campus in Coffman Memorial Union, the University’s student union.

I hope every student able to attend has a great time. Knowing the humor that Novak brings to his character on The Office, the comedy show is bound to be filled with laughs!

~ Trisha

The Physics of “Watchmen”

University of Minnesota physics professor James Kakalios was recently selected to be a “scientific adviser” to the upcoming Warner Brothers movie, Watchmen, a movie based on superheroes in the popular comic book.

In the movie, a main character, Dr. Manhattan, obtains super-human powers as a result of an experiment gone awry in 1959. His powers include changing his size, controlling matter with his mind, and teleportation.

Where does Kakalios fit in? The filmmakers flew him to Vancouver, where Kakalios was given the opportunity to talk about what the 1959 physics lab might have looked like. He uses his physics expertise to help filmmakers make sense of Manhattan’s powers and the science that creates an alternate reality. By helping filmmakers learn more about the science behind Manhattan’s super powers, they can make the film’s “alternate reality” seem a little bit more believable for audiences.

Along with advising Watchmen filmmakers on their movie, Professor Kakalios is also the author of The Physics of Superheroes.

So if you’re going to see Watchmen in the upcoming weeks (the film opens in theaters on March 6th), you can remember that some of the science behind the film comes from a U of M professor’s advice!

~ Trisha

Coffee Talks

Being a member of the Leadership Minor here at the U of M, I am a part of a community of students who are passionate about leadership and the ways in which it is used in our society. One way that the minor builds a community of students is by sponsoring monthly events called “Leadership Minor Coffee Talks.”

The Coffee Talks are held at the Purple Onion, a Dinkytown coffee shop. It gives members of the minor the chance to meet new people and discuss topics related to leadership. A couple of friends and I decided to check out February’s Coffee Talk event on “Living a Sustainable Life.” At the event, two professors spoke about their research on sustainable living and how leadership plays a part in the “Green” movement towards environmentalism. I learned a lot about the stereotypes of the movement. We broke up into small groups for discussion and talked about how we could use the tools from the presentation in our own lives. The event was a great way to get connected to other students in the minor, share our experiences, and take away some tools for the future. Personally, I try to be “green” everyday by using a water bottle rather than multiple plastic bottles of water. Also, I try to conserve energy as much as possible by turning off any extra lights at home.

I’m not sure what the topic is for March’s Coffee Talks, but I think I will definitely check it out!

~ Trisha

p.s. Are you “green”? What do you do to minimize your impact on the environment?