Movies are no longer only a source of entertainment, but are becoming a field of academic study as well. Because of this shift, a group of professors at Ouachita has recently started a group called the Film Society, dedicated to investigating this burgeoning field.
“The Film Society is a new group on campus dedicated to viewing and discussing films,” said Dr. Doug Sonheim, professor of English, “with the assumption that all of God’s creation, including those creations made by humans, what we call culture, are worth investigating, critiquing, and thereby, enjoying at a deeper level.”
According to Sonheim this group was formed to address an influential realm of study that is not available anywhere else on campus.
“We decided to start a film society because no extra curricular group existed that would encourage the Ouachita community to discuss, debate, and enjoy what is a pervasive and, probably, powerful influence on us,” Sonheim said.
The Film Society will also be used to determine if Ouachita students would be interested in film studies as a minor.
“Film studies, as a scholarly pursuit, does not yet have a place in OBU’s official curriculum,” said Dr. Mary Beth Long, assistant professor of English, “but given sufficient interest from students, it will. I see the Film Society as one way to gauge students’ interest in the future development of an interdisciplinary Film Studies minor.”
Regular meeting times for the Film Society have not yet been set, but the group will meet for the first time on Nov. 8 and will be watching “Stranger Than Fiction.” Anyone that is interested in the group is encouraged to come. Sonheim also urges anyone with ideas about what to do with the group to contact him.
“If you are interested in helping to organize film events and to choose which films to watch, contact me, Dr. Mary Beth Long, or Dr. Dave Ozmun,” Sonheim said. “We encourage any interested students to join the fun.”
