The interdisciplinary Screen Cultures minor focuses on global screen-based visual culture including film, television, and newer forms of media. Students will learn how to analyze the formal aspects of a wide array of media and how to understand global film, TV, and media within their diverse cultural and historical contexts. Courses look at the dynamic relationship between media representation and identity, media and global/regional conflicts, media and popular culture, and media and urban spaces. Courses also address various film and TV genres, regional approaches to film and TV, and a variety of theoretical methods for understanding global media.
The majority of coursework is offered through the Departments of Communication and English, and the Department of Modern and Classical Languages. Students may take a limited number of courses in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The two required courses, COMM 380 and ENGH 372, provide essential grounding in the language of formal analysis and key methods of analysis. Students select four additional courses designed to offer more advanced levels of study.
Policies
Eight credits of coursework must be unique to the minor and students must complete all coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.00. For policies governing all minors, see AP.5.3.4 Minors.
Minor Requirements
Total credits: 18
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGH 372 | Introduction to Film (Mason Core) | 3 |
| COMM 380 | Media Criticism | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Electives
AVT, COMM, and FAVS majors can only use 6 elective credits from their home department toward the Screen Cultures minor. Only six credits total for any students may be FAVS courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Cyberpunk | ||
| Contemporary Chinese Film | ||
| Introduction to Media Production | ||
| Media Theory | ||
| Mass Communication and Public Policy | ||
| Multi-Camera Studio Production | ||
| Digital Postproduction | ||
| Videography | ||
| Gender, Race, and Class in the Media | ||
| Sports and the Media | ||
| Media Production Practicum | ||
| Introduction to Screen Cultures | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Studies 1 | ||
| Popular Culture 1, 2 | ||
| Global Voices (Mason Core) 1, 2 | ||
| Introduction to Documentary (Mason Core) | ||
| Television Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Screening the Global City (Mason Core) | ||
| Cultural Constructions of Sexualities 1 | ||
| Topics in Popular Literature 1 | ||
| RS: Topics in Film/Media History (Mason Core) 2 | ||
| Topics in Film/Media Theory 2 | ||
| Topics in Film/Media Studies 2 | ||
| Independent Study 1 | ||
| Introduction to World Cinema (Mason Core) | ||
| Business of Film and Television | ||
| Global Horror Film (Mason Core) | ||
| Ethics of Film and Video (Mason Core) | ||
| Special Topics in Film and Video Studies 2 | ||
| French and Francophone Cinema 1 | ||
| Contexts for Global Cinema (Mason Core) | ||
| Japanese Cinema | ||
| Music in Motion Pictures (Mason Core) | ||
| Topics in (Post) Soviet Film 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
Requires prior written approval of the minor director.
- 2
May be repeated when topic is different.