This page is part of the 2020 Lane website archive, and is presented for historical reference only.
Film Studies Film Studies

Film Studies

Film Studies

As Roger Ebert once said, “The great movies enlarge us, they civilize us, they make us more decent people.” Movies are more than entertainment, movies are an art which helps shape our culture and society. Whether you’re interested in watching movies on a deeper level or learning how to make your own, Lane’s Film Studies program has the courses you need to get started.

By learning how to watch movies with a more careful eye, you’ll develop strong critical thinking skills that will help you in any career you pursue. You’ll have the option of taking classes like Film History, Film Genres (Horror, Comedy, Noir), Women Directors, and more! No matter if you’re interested in a degree in cinema studies or you’re just looking to take a few classes for fun, film classes will help you develop your analytical and storytelling skills.

Is the Film Studies program for you?

Do you love watching movies? Are you interested in diving deeper into horror films, female directors, film history, and more? Do you like thinking about stories and developing new ideas? Lane’s Film Studies program has what you need to delve deeper into the world of movies! You’ll learn how narratives are structured and communicated visually (gamers and graphic novel fans, take note!), as well as the history, style, and nuts and bolts of movies and the film industry.

If you’re interested in pursuing a cinema studies major at a four-year institution, our advisors can help you develop a transfer plan to the school of your dreams. If you dream of being a duck, our core film sequence transfers seamlessly to the UO! Not sure if you want to major in film studies but want to take a few film classes anyways? No problem! Depending on which class you take, our film classes can fulfill Arts & Letters or Diversity requirements for most degrees at Lane. And, if you’re Interested in Lane’s Multimedia Design degree, multimedia design students can take film studies classes as directed electives for their degree!

When you’re ready to get started, just apply! Our Admissions office staff will guide you through the steps to enroll to get you started right. You can also contact Admissions with any questions you have about the college, to schedule a tour of the campus, or just to say, "hello." If you’re not ready to apply today, you can request more information on the program and we’ll get in touch to make a plan that works for you.

What will you learn in the Film Studies program?

Whether you’re a full-fledged movie buff or you just like watching movies, our film studies program has a class for you. Through our classes both in-person and online, you’ll:

  • develop your “cineliteracy” - your ability to understand and critique film images, sound, and editing
  • hone your critical thinking skills—film classes ask you to analyze film texts from a number of perspectives—style, historical context, message & meaning, audience reaction
  • broaden your horizons and increase your empathy. Film critic Roger Ebert once described movies as “the most powerful empathy machine in all the arts.” Movies invite us to identify with other people, to “live somebody else's life for a while, [to be] a different gender, a different race, a different economic class, to live in a different time, to have a different belief.”
  • read and think deeply about complex issues. Film courses offer you a chance to read about the history and theories of film as you analyze movies
  • develop your discussion and presentation skills: all film classes involve group projects on various films and topics, and all classes center around group and class discussion
  • prepare you for more advanced college work: our courses include collaborative research, as well as short writing assignments—if you are intimidated by the thought of producing college essays and arguments, you’ll get a chance to work your ideas out with other students in class
  • understand cinematic movements and influences and recognize and appreciate important directors. As screenwriter Brian McDonald said about studying classic films, "you will see how far you can see when perched atop a giant's shoulders."
  • learn more about films from other countries and eras—our film history courses include major film movements around the world: Italy’s neorealist movement, France’s Cinema du Look, German Expressionism, J- (apanese) and K- (orean) horror, and others
  • develop relationships with other students interested in film and the visual arts which can lead to important creative partnerships

Throughout our courses, you'll learn how compelling stories are structured and told! Understanding how stories are assembled and communicated can help you develop your own storytelling skills, and storytelling is an important skill in any career. So whether you take the entire film sequence--and learn about storytelling in the U.S. and around the globe--or just fulfill an elective, you'll develop a better appreciation and understanding of story, so that you can use storytelling effectively in your own life.

What can you do next?

If you think you might want to major in film and transfer to UO or elsewhere, our advisors will help you develop a transfer plan to get you to your goal. If you’re interested in transferring to the University of Oregon and pursuing Cinema studies, our core courses, CINE 265, 266, and 267, transfer seamlessly. Our course on women directors, FA 264: Women Make Movies, fulfills a diversity requirement both at Lane and UO, and is offered every other spring. If you’re interested in pursuing your studies somewhere else, talk with your advisor about what classes and options you have!

If you’re interested in making films, you may want to consider the Multimedia Design program. Film studies courses fulfill some of the electives requirements for that program, and help you learn more about creating memorable films.

Personal attention from engaging faculty

Lane offers students the best of both worlds: a wide variety of courses to choose from and small class sizes. At Lane, you’ll never take a class with more than 40 students, and your class will always be taught by an instructor, not a grad student. Our attentive faculty have real world experience, and they bring those experiences to the classroom! Because of our small class sizes, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know your instructor on a first-name basis.

Get to know the Film Studies faculty and advisors

The faculty and advisors for the program can help you meet your career goals. They can answer any program specific questions you might have, and help you find opportunities outside of the classroom. Advisors will help you schedule your classes and plan for the future. You’ll work with them to create a term-by-term planner that meets your needs and goals to ensure you complete your degree. And if you’re planning on transferring to a four-year school, they can help you take the classes you need to count towards your bachelor's degree.

If you’re interested in learning more about our film studies program, reach out to Kate Sullivan, our lead film studies instructor!

Attending classes at Lane

Lane’s main campus is tucked into the foothills of the Oregon Cascades, providing a stunning landscape for your education. With incredible resources on campus like advising, tutoring services, the library, First Year Experience and so many more, you have the opportunity to make the most out of your degree. Lane also offers student housing at Titan Court in downtown Eugene, next to our Mary Spilde Center. Ready to learn more? Schedule a campus tour to explore our beautiful campus and amazing facilities.