Studying film from a variety of disciplinary perspectives will allow students not only to interpret the complex visual texts that pervade our image-saturated culture, but also to appreciate the beauty of the cinematic language that tells some of our greatest cultural stories. Our world communicates through the moving image—from Citizen Kane to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the last .gif you sent to a friend; learning cinematic literacy—the what, how, and why of film in communication—is one of the most important and rewarding skills a student can develop in the 21st century.
Film Studies at Gonzaga
The Film Studies minor is a great choice for students with an interest in graduate study in film and media, careers in the film and media industries, or simply a lifelong love of movies. Film Studies faculty guide students as they explore the world of cinema and examine film and other visual media as a vehicle for ethical, political, social, and cultural values. This minor will help students not only to interpret the complex visual texts that pervade our image-saturated culture, but also to appreciate the beauty of the cinematic language that tells some of our greatest cultural stories.
Film Studies intersects with departments from across Gonzaga’s campus, making it a minor that dovetails with and complements many of Gonzaga’s majors. In addition to its stand-alone capstone, the program offers cross-listed courses with Art, Classical Civilizations, Communication Studies, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, English, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Theatre & Dance. Because of this emphasis on interdisciplinarity, Film Studies students can meet the requirements of the minor while also fulfilling University Core requirements in First-Year Seminar, Christianity and Catholic Traditions, Literature, Fine Arts, and the Core Integrated Seminar, in addition to fulfilling Writing Enriched, Social Justice, and Global Studies requirements.