The Banner

California Baptist University has a new major available for students looking to direct their futures toward an expanding and evolving field.

"The film studies major seeks out progressive, philosophically minded, creative and intellec- tually daring students who are willing to think critically about themselves and the world around them," Professor Brett Biermann said.

The film studies major has been in development for nearly two years. Both Biermann and Melissa Croteau, Associate Professor of Literature and Film, joined the CBU faculty with the intention of designing a film program for CBU.

"Film is arguably the most successful and powerful cultural image maker in post-modernity, so acquainting students with this medium will increase their cul- tural effectiveness," Biermann said.

Even before Biermann and Croteau joined the CBU faculty, several other departments, including the English and Visual Arts departments, offered classes relating to film studies. These included courses such as Film as Art and Asian Cinema.

In 2008, CBU introduced a minor in film literature. Due to student interest and the consistent desire to create a film department at CBU that would fully encompass the social and media aspects of film, the minor evolved into a film studies minor in 2009, replacing the film literature minor.

"It was a major stepping stone in molding CBU into a school that hosted a department fully encompassing these studies as a critical part of the seemingly ever expanding mass media world," Biermann said.

According to Biermann, taking classes in the major can help prepare interested students for careers including film archivist, film researcher or museum curator, as well as an increasing number of jobs in the film and media industry.

Several new classes have been introduced as a result of the new Film Studies major. These include Christianity and Film and Major Directors. Indian Cinema, Film History and classes in screen- writing will be introduced in the 2010-2011 academic school year.