New Major: Professor Mónica López Lerma talks Film and Media Studies

This fall, Film and Media Studies (FMST), which has been offered at Reed as a minor since the 2020-21 academic year, became available as an interdisciplinary major. The Quest reached out to the chair of the Committee on Film and Media Studies, Spanish professor Mónica López Lerma, to find out more about the major. According to the department’s website, the Film and Media Studies program “focuses on the history, theory, and criticism of film and other communications media.” Professor López Lerma expanded on that definition of the field, saying, film and media studies “approaches these media not just as artistic expressions, but also as cultural artifacts that reflect and shape our social and political perceptions of reality.” Turning to potential students, Professor López Lerma laid out the committee’s goals, saying, “By majoring or minoring in [film and media] studies, students gain vital visual literacy skills that empower them to critically examine the economic, social, and political structures underlying film and media. They also become aware of how these mediums engage with critical issues such as race, gender, sexual orientation, class, ethnicity, identity, migration, environmental challenges, and post-colonialism. This visual literacy prepares students not only to appreciate the artistry of film and media but also to engage thoughtfully with the media-saturated world around them.” According to López Lerma, the committee offers only three “core” courses: FMST 201 - Introduction to Film Studies, FMST 301 - Introduction to Film Theory, and FMST 302 - Introduction to Media Studies. These courses are designed to teach disciplinary skills essential and unique to Film and Media Studies. However, outside of these core offerings, there are a wide range of “elective” interdisciplinary courses housed across a variety of departments, from Art to Religion. Majors, in addition to having to take more core FMST courses than minors, also have to demonstrate proficiency in a non-English language.

According to López Lerma, the committee as a whole, and the major specifically, have been created in response to student’s and scholars' rising academic interest in Media Studies. “The successful launch of the Film and Media Studies major this year stands as a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our faculty over more than a decade. This initiative emerged from a collective vision to enrich our curriculum and respond to the increasing student interest in film and media. Acknowledging the rising demand for FMST courses— particularly at the introductory level— our first success came with the establishment of a minor in 2020. This minor not only provided eager students with an opportunity to explore film and media, but also paved the way for the creation of the FMST major.” 

Situating the field in a broader context, Professor López Lerma explained “Film and Media Studies equips students with the analytical skills and historical insight necessary to understand and interpret the diverse array of audiovisual media we encounter in the 21st century. In an era dominated by media— from YouTube videos and TikToks to Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, and X— it’s crucial to remain vigilant not only about biased or manipulative content, but also about how such content is constructed to appear persuasive and credible.” “While studying film and media doesn’t offer a magic solution to these challenges, it provides essential analytical tools for both maintaining a critical perspective in our politically charged world and combating the dangers of disinformation.”

For those interested in those themes, the FMST department is hosting a series of upcoming events. Professor López Lerma says, “Professor Mark Burford is hosting a series of four African American history-related documentary film screenings… Reed language houses are planning weekly movie nights to immerse students in diverse cinematic experiences. On November 18, Professor M. Neelamalar (Anna University, Chennai, India), will deliver a guest lecture on `Media law in India.’ Looking ahead to spring, Professor David Oubiña will present on `A Film between Joyce and Marx: Sergei Eisenstein’s Documentary Poem about the Argentine Pampas’ on January 30. I’m also organizing a mini-film festival where students can showcase the short documentaries they’ve created for my class ‘Documentary Resistance in Latin America and Spain,’ tentatively scheduled for April.”

In the future, Professor López Lerma hopes the department can “include dedicated courses in film, video, and digital media production. In these courses, students will learn to use media production equipment and technologies, covering film and digital processes, as well as editing and post-production software.”