鈥淭he public response to 鈥楪et Out鈥� was such a powerful example of the timely cultural work popular cinema can do,鈥� Burns says, 鈥渁nd I was particularly struck by Peele鈥檚 playfully allusive style.鈥�

Noting the writer-director鈥檚 tendency to wear his influences on his sleeve, including Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and other ambitious 20th-century directors, Burns also designed the course to expose students to an earlier chapter in film history.

鈥淭his 鈥榯hrowback feel鈥� associated with Peele鈥檚 style rewards student participation 鈥� an opportunity to make connections and share those discoveries with their fellow viewers,鈥� Burns says.

Through this course, students explore the genre鈥檚 rhetorical and discursive power in suspense-driven allegories on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and social justice. The hybrid nature of the course is one of the core elements of the new global film & cultures minor, which Burns coordinates with Kai Swanson, assistant professor of cinema & television arts.

鈥淭he minor鈥檚 curricular goals are primarily collaborative and organizational: to help students identify film studies courses that are already in place across the university curriculum and provide a framework for organizing them,鈥� Burns explains, 鈥渨hether it鈥檚 a Film, Politics & Society course offered by the Department of Political Science & Public Policy or one in Italian Cinema taken through the World Languages & Cultures program.鈥�

Social thrillers like 鈥淕et Out鈥� handle complex societal issues masked through film genre conventions. In the 1950s, 鈥渟ocial message鈥� or 鈥減roblem pictures鈥� looked at different subjects through the context of melodrama. In the 1960s, the movie industry began to deal with those issues more explicitly in films such as 鈥淕uess Who鈥檚 Coming to Dinner,鈥� 鈥淣ight of the Living Dead鈥� and 鈥淩osemary鈥檚 Baby.鈥� More modern variants on the genre include 鈥淧arasite,鈥� 鈥淧romising Young Woman鈥� and the body-horror film 鈥淭he Substance.鈥�

鈥淚n shaping its definition, students compare social thrillers to other, related genres in order to better understand how films like Peele鈥檚 separate themselves out through implicit allegorical messaging rather than direct polemic,鈥� Burns says. 鈥淚n this way, students have a lot of fun defining what the social thriller is 鈥� its coherence as a genre 鈥� or whether there might be a better way to think about these films.鈥�

The course was taught for the first time during an Elon Winter Term, and the regular semester version has enabled further expansion.

福利亚洲国产精品 the Professor

Dan Burns is an assistant professor of English whose teaching and research focus on film and media studies, adaptation, the history and theory of the novel, and U.S. literature and culture. He holds a doctorate from UNC-Greensboro and is active in interdisciplinary scholarship and academic leadership, including co-coordinating the global film & cultures minor.

Recommended Materials

• 鈥淕et Out: The Annotated Screenplay鈥� by Jordan Peele
• 鈥淩osemary鈥檚 Baby鈥� by Ira Levin
• 鈥淭he Nickel Boys鈥� by Colson Whitehead

On Sept. 24-25, 2025, Chen-L贸pez’s two-day visit invited students to reflect on their understanding of Latin American identity and migration as he shared his innovative research on the representation of Chinese communities in Latin American literature, cinema, and visual arts, which is a topic that opened new perspectives for students and community members across multiple disciplines.

Chen-L贸pez’s keynote address, “Affective Mapping: Tracing the Chinese Diaspora in Latin American Literature, Cinema, and Visual Arts,” examined how Chinese identity and history are portrayed in creative works throughout different Latin American countries: Mexico, Costa Rica, and Argentina. His work traces how emotional responses to Chinatowns and Chinese neighborhoods have evolved over time and explores how the very concepts of “China” and “Chineseness” have shifted in response to changing geopolitical dynamics.

The visit extended far beyond a single lecture. Chen-L贸pez engaged directly with students in various courses in the classrooms and in El Centro, including “Human Migrations”, “Medical Spanish”, “Growing Up in the Spanish Speaking World”, “In Search of Identity, Innovation and Social Protest Theater”, and COR1100. He also met with student members from the Latin American Studies program, the Spanish Club, and the Chinese Club during a community breakfast, fostering cross-cultural dialogue.

For many students, the presentations sparked revelations about migration patterns they had never considered. Anette Cruz 鈥�28, reflected on how the experience transformed their perspective

“Previously when thinking about migration to Latin American countries it never really came to my head to think about countries like China,” said Cruz. “When I would think about migration, I聽would think it was mostly within Latin American regions. But after learning about the impact Chinese migration has had on countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Argentina, it really made me think about the significance of it. I was able to see that through symbolism shown to me in Mexican readings, Argentinian movies and Costa Rican paintings, and to me I found that very interesting because again, I feel as if I would have overlooked that if I was presented with it. Overall Chinese diaspora in Latin American countries shown through historical contexts and symbolism in art is something new that I learned today, something that has opened my eyes a little more when talking about migration to Latin American countries.鈥�

Chen-L贸pez’s interdisciplinary approach demonstrated how overlooked communities have shaped Latin American culture in profound ways. By examining representations of “China” and “Chineseness” in Latin American art, literature, and film, he sparked a dialogue among students and the broader 福利亚洲国产精品 community on the importance of interdisciplinary research and looking beyond dominant narratives to discover the multiple histories of a society.

The Latin American Research Series is presented by Latin American Studies and sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures; Peace and Conflict Studies; El Centro; International and Global Studies; Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Isabella Cannon Global Education Center; the Department of Philosophy; and Global Films and Cultures.

Students in the CTA 3000: Entertainment Media Business and Practices course spent the spring semester collaborating with acclaimed filmmaker Dan Mirvish, co-founder of the , as part of the early development process for his next feature film.

Mirvish, an independent director and producer known for his inventive approach to storytelling, shared an early draft of a screenplay co-written with Christine Vartoughian and Matthias Jeske. The story 鈥撀爏et during the Cold War and centered on a surreal Omaha-based aircraft 鈥撀爏erved as the foundation for the students鈥� hands-on experience.

, a cinema and television arts major with an interest in writing and development, appreciated the scope and authenticity of the experience working with Mirvish.

鈥淚t’s rare that students get the chance to have real-world experience and have an actual impact on a project of this scale,鈥� Wilkerson said. 鈥淲e’ve been able to see all the work that goes into a project … and it’s been amazing to be a part of the process of bringing a project to life. I chose Elon’s Communications program because of opportunities to engage with the industry and develop the skills we need to thrive in the film world post-grad, and being able to work with Dan Mirvish has been such a candid insight into the world of indie producing.鈥�

Led by Assistant Professor Kai Swanson, students examined the project from multiple industry perspectives. After signing non-disclosure agreements, they wrote formal script coverage 鈥撀燼n essential skill in professional film development 鈥撀燽efore participating in a live table read. Mirvish joined virtually from Los Angeles to hear the read-through and offer immediate feedback on the script鈥檚 progress.

Parker Felumlee 鈥�26, an acting BFA major, found the session both immersive and inspiring.

鈥淜nowing we’re directly involved in the production of a new script resulted in an infectious energy that spread to the whole class during the session,鈥� Felumlee said. 鈥淎fterward, we got to talk one-on-one with Dan about the characters we read for and discuss their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, etc. that we saw while reading.鈥�

Mirvish praised the students鈥� input and noted how impressed he was by their thoughtful participation.

“I’m immensely grateful to Professor Swanson and all the Elon students for workshopping our next film,” Mirvish said. “Their feedback is an invaluable aspect to developing the project, and it’s exciting to work with such smart, talented students. Hopefully, this film will help them as they prepare for their own careers after Elon.”

As the course progressed, students shifted from story development to production planning. Divided into three budget tiers 鈥撀燤icrobudget ($300K), Lower-Mid ($600K), and Premium Indie ($2M) 鈥撀爐eams are now creating pitch decks, business plans, mood boards, marketing strategies, and production budgets tailored to SAG-AFTRA Low Budget Theatrical contracts. Their work will culminate in final presentations to mock 鈥渧enture capitalists,鈥� modeled after real-world independent film financiers.

Swanson said the course is designed to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and professional practice.

“Having made my fair share of mistakes on professional sets early in my career, I designed this course to offer students the closest thing to real-world experience in the entertainment industry 鈥撀燽ut with mentorship and a built-in safety net,” Swanson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about helping them develop the confidence, language, and tools they鈥檒l need to thrive.鈥�

Students will receive a special thank-you credit in the final film, making the experience both educational and professionally meaningful. As Mirvish prepares to move the film toward production, CTA 3000 students can take pride in having shaped its early development.

Designed for the next generation of content creators and strategists, the program equips students to manage the full content lifecycle 鈥撀爁rom creation to distribution and analysis 鈥撀燼cross platforms like social media, websites, apps and streaming services. With a curriculum that blends analytics, branding, multimedia storytelling, and emerging technologies like AI, students will graduate prepared to navigate the opportunities 鈥� and ethical challenges 鈥� of today鈥檚 digital landscape.

Built on cross-disciplinary collaboration and real-world experience, the major includes a professional internship and a capstone project addressing real industry challenges.

鈥淭his program was developed in direct response to the evolving needs of the digital media industry,鈥� said Staci Saltz, chair of the Department of Cinema and Television Arts and co-proposer of the major. 鈥淲e designed DCM to bridge creative storytelling with strategy and data, empowering students to become thoughtful leaders in the digital space.鈥�

The major draws on existing strengths within the School of Communications and integrates coursework from cinema and television arts, communication design, journalism, media analytics, and strategic communications. Students will take foundational courses in branding, persuasive messaging, and visual storytelling before progressing into specialized courses on digital strategy, audience insights, and multiplatform production.

鈥淒esigned with flexibility in mind, the DCM major encourages students to pair it with a double major in any other undergraduate field, including other majors in the School of Communications.鈥�

鈥� Vic Costello,聽DCM鈥檚 program director

The program also introduces two new courses: a gateway class titled Digital Content and the Creator Economy and a senior capstone in which students develop comprehensive digital strategies for real-world clients or projects. Like other School of Communications programs, the major includes an internship requirement to ensure students gain professional experience before graduation.

National labor trends and industry projections reflect rising demand for professionals skilled in digital content creation, strategy and management. A 2023 Goldman Sachs report estimates the creator economy will approach $480 billion by 2027, while LinkedIn lists digital marketing and content strategy among the fastest-growing career paths.

鈥淭he DCM major reflects Elon鈥檚 forward-thinking approach to education,鈥� said Vic Costello, associate professor of cinema and television arts and director of the school鈥檚 curriculum core and minor, who co-proposed the major. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not just preparing students for their first jobs 鈥撀爓e鈥檙e equipping them with the skills to lead, adapt and thrive in industries that are constantly evolving.鈥�

Costello, who will serve as DCM鈥檚 program director, noted that one of the new major鈥檚 signature elements is its appeal as a double-major option. Students pursuing this option can apply up to 12 credit hours from their second major toward DCM electives 鈥� enabling them to complete the DCM requirements in 45 hours while gaining added depth and specialization in another area of interest.

Students interested in the digital content management major can enroll in the school鈥檚 core communications courses immediately, with full implementation of the major in place by fall 2025. The first offering of Digital Content and the Creator Economy is planned for the 2025鈥�26 academic year.

Curriculum overview

• Communications Core Curriculum (17 hours)
• Major Requirements (28 hours)
  • DCM 2500 Digital Content and the Creator Economy
  • CDE 2580 Principles of Communication Design
  • STC 2600 Brand Identity
  • MEA 2800 Data-Driven Strategies for Digital Media
  • COM 3000 Persuasive Messaging
  • CTA 3230 Media Production for Digital Platforms
  • DCM 4970 Digital Content Management Capstone
• Electives (12 hours)

The screening was introduced by Duke University German Studies Professor Mert Reisoglu, whose research centers on Turkish-German Studies, media theory and history and intellectual history. In his opening remarks, Reisoglu noted the film鈥檚 historical parallels with the political climate in Germany in the 2010s.

The event was co-moderated by Assistant Professor of English Dan Burns, who assigned the film as part of his Winter Term film studies class, 鈥淭he Social Thriller.鈥� Eager to explore an international variant of the course鈥檚 largely U.S.-themed focus on sociopolitical allegory in suspense and horror narratives, students noted that Reisoglu鈥檚 commentary offered an international perspective on the issues explored in American films such as Jordan Peele鈥檚 鈥楪et Out鈥� and Nikyatu Jusu鈥檚 鈥楴anny.鈥� Other students appreciated the new exposure to director Fatih Akin鈥檚 work, which revolutionized the treatment of migrants in Germany by emphasizing 鈥渢he pleasures of hybridity鈥� associated with navigating two countries in films like 鈥淗ead-On鈥� and 鈥淭he聽Edge of Heaven.”

Global Neighborhood鈥檚 Spring 2025 series continues Feb.18 in Global Commons 103 with filmmaker Frederick Murphy鈥檚 鈥淚ndelible Appalachia.鈥� Other series titles centering on the neighborhood theme of 鈥淪ustainable Futures鈥� this year will include Ryusuke Hamaguchi鈥檚 鈥淓vil Does Not Exist鈥� on March 11, Micha Peled鈥檚 鈥淏itter Seeds鈥� on March 25 and Zheng Xu鈥檚 鈥淯pstream鈥� on April 15.

Mpasi, who portrayed the younger version of Celie in 鈥淭he Color Purple,鈥� shared her experiences navigating the entertainment industry, reflecting on her time at Elon, and discussing the challenges and triumphs of bringing Alice Walker鈥檚 iconic character to life on screen. The conversation covered a range of topics, including Mpasi鈥檚 decision to attend Elon, the audition process, and the differences between preparing for roles in theater versus film.

During the discussion, Mpasi addressed the emotional complexity of playing Celie, a character who endures significant hardships, including intimate partner violence and psychological abuse. Initially hesitant about taking on the role, the Elon alumna ultimately embraced the opportunity following deep personal reflection. She credited her earlier experience with the role in Elon鈥檚 2015 stage production of 鈥淭he Color Purple鈥� as instrumental in building her confidence.

Her performance garnered widespread acclaim, earning her the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture, alongside recognition for Best Ensemble. Mpasi also spoke fondly about the friendships she formed with co-stars Halle Bailey and Danielle Brooks, calling the experience life-changing.

In her advice to current students, Mpasi encouraged them to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead, emphasizing the strength of Elon鈥檚 industry reputation. 鈥淭he 福利亚洲国产精品 brand is a powerful thing,鈥� she declared, revealing the innumerable connections she has made in Los Angeles thanks to her alma mater.

Additionally, Mpasi recalled the deep connections she has forged with faculty and alumni, which included a heartfelt moment during the event when retired dance faculty member Jane Wellford greeted her from the audience. Visibly delighted, Mpasi briefly reminisced about the regular dinner invitations she enjoyed at Wellford鈥檚 home during her undergraduate years at Elon.

This warm reunion prompted Mpasi to recall the sense of permanence she and her mother felt at the Williamson-Haggard intersection on her first visit to campus. 鈥淚 immediately knew this was where I was supposed to be,鈥� she told audience members.

The event was co-organized by Kai Swanson, assistant professor of cinema and television arts, and Lina Kuhn, lecturer in English, on behalf of the Global Film & Cultures minor, an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Department of Cinema and Television Arts and the Department of English. Mpasi鈥檚 virtual visit and film screening were made possible thanks to a Fund for Excellence Grant.

Dan Burns, assistant professor of English, contributed to the release.

Building on last year鈥檚 success, this year鈥檚 gathering 鈥� which runs from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. 鈥� will feature a dynamic speed-rotation format, allowing attendees to engage in meaningful discussions at various table topics every 15 minutes. Faculty, staff and students will lead discussions on investigative journalism, strategic communications, diversity in media leadership, health disparities, sports equity, and more. A full listing of the table topics is below.

According to Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism and chair of the Inclusive Excellence Committee, this year鈥檚 event highlights the growing importance of communicating across differences and provides a platform for students to engage in discipline-specific conversations about diversity and inclusion.

鈥淎n emphasis this year is on undergraduate research that advances equity, from influencer marketing representation to the newsroom experiences of neurodiverse journalists,鈥� Ahearn said. 鈥淲e also have student leaders and faculty sharing real-world applications of DEI in media, health communication and sports.鈥�

Complimentary beverages and snacks will be provided.

For more information regarding the Spotlight on Inclusive Excellence, email Ahearn at lahearn@elon.edu.

Table Topic Discussions and Presenters

1. Student Media Leadership: Using Communications to Promote Campus Diversity 鈥� Lilliana Molina 鈥�27, Sarah Moore 鈥�26 & Madison McRainey 鈥�26
2. The Conscience Beat: Investigative Reporting to Advance Equity 鈥� Lorraine Ahearn, Assistant Professor of Journalism聽
3. Beyond Parachute Storytelling: Understanding Cultures and Mitigating Risks 鈥� Alex Luchsinger, Associate Professor of Journalism
4. Alumni Spotlight: Community Organizing Across Difference 鈥� Ben Nguyen O鈥機onnor 鈥�22, Carolina Federation
5. Live Oak鈥檚 DEI in Action: Strategic Communications in Our Community 鈥� Hal Vincent, Senior Lecturer in Strategic Communications and Faculty Director,聽Live Oak Communications
6. Health Literacy: Why It Matters and What You Can Do 福利亚洲国产精品 It 鈥� Julie Lellis, Professor of Strategic Communications
7. International Student Spotlight: Navigating Across Cultures 鈥� Cristy Marine 鈥�25 and Julia Chan 鈥�28
8. Unity in Communications by and for Students 鈥� Taylor Scott 鈥�25 and Karla Estrada Perez
9. WINS: Women Influencers in Sport 鈥� Shaina Dabbs, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Sport Management
10. NIL: Underrepresentation of Women Athletes 鈥� Mark Cryan, Assistant Professor of Sport Management
11. Widening the Lens: Experiencing Diverse Culture Through Film 鈥� Kai Swanson, Assistant Professor of Cinema and Television Arts
12. Student Research Spotlight:聽聽Newsroom Experiences of Journalists with Autism Spectrum Disorder 鈥� Betsy Schlehuber 鈥�25
13. Student Research Spotlight:聽Lack of Representation in Influencer Marketing 鈥� Donelle Leak 鈥�25聽

The events, initiatives and workshops funded through Fund For Excellence mini grants will strengthen community outreach, promote deeper understanding of historical and contemporary issues, and support scholarship or enhance existing programs.

The Fund for Excellence advances 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 mission by supporting projects and programs that deepen the values, intellectual community, research, teaching and ways of thinking that are characteristic of the liberal arts and sciences. Faculty, staff and students are eligible to apply for funding, and proposals can be departmental or organizational, as well as interdisciplinary or collaborative across departments, schools and other campus entities.

鈥淭he purpose of the Fund for Excellence in the Liberal Arts and Sciences is to support projects that enhance student opportunities to engage with academic exploration, to deepen knowledge in the arts and sciences, and to broaden their perspectives as they prepare to become global citizens. These initiatives meet that mission,鈥� said Nancy Harris, associate dean of Elon College and professor of biology, who coordinates the fund through the Elon College Dean鈥檚 Office. 鈥淭he variety, scope and number of proposals submitted this year reflect the collaborative and innovative approaches to the liberal arts and sciences across 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 faculty, staff and students.鈥�

A record 16 proposals were submitted in spring 2024. Each year, recipients are selected by a committee appointed by the president of Elon鈥檚 chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. This year鈥檚 committee members were Harris; Heather Lindenman, associate professor of English; Patricia Perkins, associate professor of law; Shannon Tennant, coordinator of library collections and associate librarian; and Karen Yokley, professor of mathematics.

Projects awarded funding for 2024-25 included:

STEM Saturday at Elon

An outreach program for students in the Alamance-Burlington School System to explore studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at Elon. The event is led by students in Elon鈥檚 STEM clubs.

• Submitted by Anthony Rizutto, associate professor of , and Ahlam Armaly, assistant professor of chemistry.

Making the Invisible Visible: German-Jewish Migration from Nazi Germany to Latin America

Brings scholar Bjorn Siegel, a researcher at the Institute for the History of the German Jews in Hamburg, to Elon to meet with Elon classes and deliver his presentation, 鈥淢aking the Invisible Visible: German-Jewish Migration from Nazi Germany to Latin America,鈥� aligning with curricula in the Latin American Studies, Jewish Studies, International and Global Studies and Museum Studies and Public History programs.

• Submitted by Andrea Sinn, associate professor of history, and Juan Leal Ugalde, assistant professor of Spanish.

Creative Approaches to Complex Pasts

This project will create a dance film based on one of 10 episodes in 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 2020 Report from the Committee on Elon History and Memory. Assistant Professor of Dance Keshia Wall will choreograph and direct the film. The spring 2025 screening will be accompanied by a panel discussion including partners and community members.

• Submitted by Keshia Wall, assistant professor of dance; Buffie Longmire-Avital, professor of psychology, faculty administrative fellow, and director of the Black Lumen Project; Evan Gatti, professor of art history; and Amanda Laury Kleintop, assistant professor of history.

African Diasporas in North Carolina: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Understanding the History & Legacies of Enslavement

Provides three opportunities for the Elon community to engage with the history of slavery and the African diaspora in North Carolina during Winter Term. Those include a screening and panel discussion of the documentary 鈥淭alking Black in America: Roots,鈥� and visits to the Stagville State Historic Site and Burlington鈥檚 African American Cultural Arts and History Center.

• Submitted by Amanda Laury Kleintop, assistant professor of history; Archie Crowley, assistant professor of English; Erin Pearson, assistant professor of English; Keshia Wall, assistant professor of dance; Devin Proctor, assistant professor of anthropology.

Cinematic Bridges

In association with the Global Film and Cultures Minor, this project will bring two international films to campus for discussion; invite screenwriter, filmmaker and co-creator of the Slamdance Film Festival, Dan Mirvish, to Elon as a guest speaker; and include a pre-recorded interview with Phylicia Pearl Mpasi 鈥�15, a star of 鈥淭he Color Purple,鈥� to accompany that film鈥檚 screening.

• Submitted by Kai Swanson, assistant professor of cinema and television arts, and Lina Kuhn, lecturer in English.

Equipping the EcoVillage LLC

This project will provide workshops and guest speakers to lead events at the EcoVillage in its first year, including topics in Afro-Caribbean herbalism, nature drawing and environmental justice.

• Submitted by Jacob Rutz, lecturer in environmental studies; Michael Strickland, lecturer in English and environmental studies; and Ashley Hollan, visiting assistant professor in arts administration.

Alumni Voices: Conversations with Political Insiders on the 2024 Election

This series of events will bring alumni to campus who are working in policy, politics and journalism ahead of the November elections. They include an investigative reporter covering campaign fraud, an advance manager for a governor and a state political director for a presidential campaign who will share their experiences with campus audiences.

• Submitted by Jillian Auditori, lecturer in political science and policy studies, and Israel Balderas, assistant professor of journalism.

Engineering Takes Center Stage: Bridging the Arts and Sciences

An interdisciplinary project between Elon鈥檚 Departments of Engineering and Department of Performing Arts for engineering students to program the choreography and design artificial fur for two robot dogs that will perform in scenes of 鈥淟egally Blonde: The Musical.鈥�

• Submitted by Courtney Liu, assistant professor of music theatre, and Blake Hament, assistant professor of engineering.

Celebration and Appreciation of Holi

Elon鈥檚 Periclean Scholars will enhance the annual Holi event hosted by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life in March 2025 by adding traditional music, dance, decoration, Indian food, and cultural crafts like henna.

• Submitted by the Periclean Class of 2026

Stories Beyond Borders

Lula Carballo, a Qu茅b茅cois author of Spanish American descent and Emilie Guerette, a Qu茅b茅cois film director, will visit Elon for guest lectures, readings and a film screening. Their appearances will provide students鈥� deeper understanding of issues around immigration from their lived experiences and creative works.

• Submitted by Bethany Sudibyo, lecturer in Spanish, Ketevan Kupatadze, senior lecturer in Spanish, and Olivia Choplin, associate professor of French and interim director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.

Climate, Communities and Conversations

Expands the Highway 64 Project, which covers communities across the state, to include issues of climate change and resiliency in North Carolina. It also would connect Elon to communities by hosting virtual roundtable discussions and bringing expert speakers to campus for workshops and lectures.

• Submitted by Michael Strickland, lecturer in English and environmental studies.

Campus Sustainability Week Keynote Speaker

This initiative brings attorney and author Corban Addison to Elon and Elon Law as the keynote speaker of Campus Sustainability Week and to meet with students, faculty and staff. Addison is the author of the international bestseller, 鈥淲astelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial,鈥� which tells the story of an eastern North Carolina community鈥檚 legal battle for environmental justice against a company in the hog industry.

• Submitted by Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach, and Eric Townsend, assistant vice president for academic communications.

Analogue Experience in a Digital Age

Develops a philosophy and film course that integrates analog films and student filmmaking into an interdisciplinary study of philosophy. The course would culminate in a symposium and screening.

• Submitted by Nathan L. Smith, assistant professor of philosophy, and Stephen Bloch-Schulman, professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy.

Dan Burns, assistant professor of English, recently presented at the American Comparative Literature Association鈥檚 annual meeting, held this year at the Palais des congr猫s de Montreal from March 14-17.

Burns, who is co-coordinator of the Global Film & Cultures minor, was a panelist at this year鈥檚 American Comparative Literature Association conference鈥攖he principal learned society in the United States for cross-cultural literary study and scholars that teach and write across nations, languages, and cultures.

The three-day seminar, titled聽Writerly Worlds and Worldly Writers: Transcultural Receptions of German Literature, explored how various nations, cultures, translations, and technologies shape the reception aesthetics (Rezeptions盲sthetik) of German-language texts and writers.

Burns鈥� paper examined American writer-director Orson Welles鈥� 1962 film Le Proc猫s (1962), an adaptation of the celebrated 1925 novel The Trial (Der Proze脽) by the Czech-German author Franz Kafka. A French, Italian, and West German co-production, Welles鈥� adaptation was met with a notoriously negative reception in its original release but has enjoyed a critical reevaluation in recent years. Following the recent turn in Kafka scholarship to a focus on European visual culture and experimental psychology in the author鈥檚 work, Burns analyzed Welles鈥� cinematic approach to the competing cognitive demands of attention and distraction in Kafka鈥檚 novel through innovations in mobile framing, continuity editing, and deep focus compositions.

The American Comparative Literature Association (ACLA) promotes the study of intercultural relations that cross national boundaries, multicultural relations within a particular society, and the interactions between literature and other forms of human activity, including the arts, the sciences, philosophy, and cultural artifacts of all kinds.

During Winter Term, a group of Elon students spent 18 days immersing themselves in the film industry in Los Angeles and the vibrant energy of the renowned Sundance Film Festival. Led by Assistant Professors Kai Swanson and Matthew Blomberg, The Film Festival Experience: Hollywood & Sundance course offered students insight into the history and culture of the mainstream film industry and the independent film markets across the globe.

Samuel Remes ’26, a double major in finance and cinema & television arts, enrolled in the Study USA program because of his aspirations of becoming a writer and film editor.

“This is a really great experience. There were tons of laughter, gasps and a genuine atmosphere of excitement,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such an insane, wild ride that’s not only great to experience, but also great to see everyone else鈥檚 reactions.鈥�

The course鈥檚 journey began with a deep dive into the history and present-day topics of Hollywood, with visits to iconic studios, including Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures and Sony Studios. Students had an opportunity to explore the behind-the-scenes magic of filmmaking, gaining insights into the craft from industry professionals.

But this trip wasn’t just about observing from afar. It was about engaging with the pulse of the industry, which Harrison Saini 鈥�24 appreciated. 鈥淭he LA and Sundance trip allows students to explore the industry on a much deeper level and see it in a way that is not possible from a classroom,鈥� the strategic communications major said.

In Los Angeles, the itinerary was packed with enriching experiences, including a visit to the TCL Chinese Theatre, a day spent exploring Catalina Island, and thought-provoking engagements such as the 鈥淒ocumenting a Movement: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Civil Rights鈥� event at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

The students joined Elon alumni for dinner to better understand possible career paths. Those in attendance included writer-producer Michelle Leibel 鈥�14, comedian and reality TV show writer Jay Light 鈥�12, and legal coordinator for NBC Universal Hunter Strauch 鈥�18.

“This program is not just about observing,鈥� Swanson said. 鈥淚t’s about engaging with the industry’s heart and soul.鈥�

While in Los Angeles, students also dedicated time to community service, volunteering with the Valley of Change on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, packaging hygiene kits and distributing them to the unhoused in the city.

During the second half of the course, students attended the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, enjoying the independent spirit of cinema, attending screenings, panels and networking events. Lucy Samuels 鈥�26, a cinema & television arts major, expressed gratitude for the sense of community she discovered while traveling with her fellow Elon students and interacting with alumni.

鈥淚t helped me realize that there is a massive Elon community in LA to help CTA students,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t made me feel a lot more secure about my career.”

Added Swanson, “For those dreaming of a career in film or television, this experience is a gateway to understanding the intricacies of storytelling, production, press, and the diverse voices that shape our screens.”

Interested in next year鈥檚 The Film Festival Experience: Hollywood & Sundance course? Contact Swanson at kswanson8@elon.edu. And if this course interests you, check out the university鈥檚 new Global Film & Cultures minor, centered around three facets of global film studies: history, industries, and theory/interpretation. Swanson serves as the minor鈥檚 co-coordinator and can answer questions.