<p>Can anyone tell me anything about the Modern Culture and Media concentration? Brown is my first choice but it’s also the only school I’m looking at without a film studies program. I read about it and the courses offered and it does seem like there are a lot of film courses in this department though. Does it function similar to a film studies degree, or if you’re not a concentrator can you take the classes that relate specifically to film without many other prerequisites?</p>
<p>Also, would it be inappropriate to say on the “what academic areas are you interested in” question that I’m interested in studying film and mention the MCM department, or should I make it more general?</p>
<p>...it is basically a film/media concentration...I'm surprised you read through the courses and thought that they didn't seem like film courses...EVERY single one requires about 3 or 4 hours of film screenings a week...the MCM department is extremely rigorous, though, and getting an A is very difficult. There should be no problem with you mentioning that you like film and, consequently, want to take courses in MCM...good luck!</p>
<p>wow OK I was actually reading the course catalog that was in my guidance office that I didn't realize was from 5 years ago. I looked at the ones department site and you're right. it was just hard to tell because the description of the concentration is kind of broad. thanks for the responses.</p>
<p>The MCM department is where film studies majors would go. I do believe there are courses there that involve film production. (I've seen students huddled over the Macs in its computer lab editing film.)</p>
<p>MCM was created by folding the film classes offered by the English Department into the Semiotics department. It has a very specific approach to studying media. I'm not sure I know the exact terminology, but it's heavily theoretical -- look up what semiotics means, and that will help describe its approach. </p>
<p>My daughter was very excited about taking film classes, signed up for the intro MCM course which you have to take before any other classes, and was totally turned off. She hated it. She vows to never take another MCM class again. At a different school with a different approach, she might have majored in film studies. </p>
<p>There are people who love the MCM department, and it has a top-notch reputation. My advice after her experience is that if you are interested in film studies, make sure that the MCM department offers the approach that appeals to you.</p>
<p>Semiotics used to be where production went but I believe there is now a more production focused track in MCM. Most people who are interested in actual production will also take a class or two at RISD. Our strength, and it's the envy of many other institutions that teach film, is in the theory, however. We're where a lot of departments want to be, which doesn't necessarily mean we're attractive to students. In fact, in many ways, I think it makes the department far less attractive. But regardless, if that's what you're into, MCM with some RISD classes is the way to go.</p>
<p>Fireandrain-- it's important to note a lot of the department also came from the French and German departments which heavily examined film (and actually Italian studies as well, though to a lesser degree than French and German).</p>
<p>"we're where a lot of departments want to be, which doesn't necessarily mean we're attractive to students. In fact, in many ways, I think it makes the department far less attractive."</p>
<p>why far less attractive? are you referring to the theory-focused aspect?</p>
<p>I am referring to the fact that it's highly theory/philosophy based.</p>
<p>Many people are very turned off by MCM, many people love it. MCM at Brown is a very distinct curriculum, and in fact it is practically a distinct discipline, from Film Studies elsewhere.</p>
<p>modestmelody, thanks for the further history and description of MCM. When I was at Brown, there were some wonderful film classes through the English departments (dubbed "Clapping for Credit") that have since disappeared. </p>
<p>I think your description, "we're where a lot of departments want to be, which doesn't necessarily mean we're attractive to students. In fact, in many ways, I think it makes the department far less attractive," is pretty accurate -- and from my perspective, sad, since I am not a fan of the highly theoretical approach. I would hope that all other film studies departments don't go down this path.</p>
<p>hellostranger, it was the theory/philosophy emphasis that turned off my daughter. She is more interested in looking at film/tv from a narrative perspective, and studying how the directing/camera angles/etc. tell a story and convey a theme. She is just not a semiotics type. She also is fascinated with the intersection of pop culture/history/politics, which MCM doesn't really address. She has found other classes that somewhat address her academic interests, although she is a little frustrated.</p>
<p>There's a visiting history professor from Greece who has taught a couple of classes in the history department about film and European history as well as a few AmCiv course that look more at the culture/history/politics side.</p>
<p>On the narrative side there is far less out there. Interestingly, I have a sense of at least a few of the courses offered along those lines because I just reviewed an independent concentration tentatively titled "Visual Story Telling". If you want to know some of the courses mentioned in that IC I can go back and take a look for your daughter, fireandrain.</p>
<p>hmmm.. that's good to know. As ur daughter, fireandrain, im also interested in seeing film in a narrative perspective, and looking at the aspects you mentioned.
but i thought all these were still theoretical parts... apparently then, i'm not really understanding what semiotics is..? what is it that Brown's program address then?</p>
<p>My kids’ there now and loves the theory/philosophy aspect. She was going to be a comp. lit or english major, but will probably do MCM. She loves the “reality based intellectualism” of it. The OTHER track in MCM IS the production angle, so you have your choice!</p>
<p>^In general (not sure exactly about MCM), Brown does not do hands-on approaches (at least not: here’s some real-world stuff that will train you to do a job). Whether it be engineering, physics, computer science, etc., our general philosophy is that you should learn to think about what you’re doing, not get “trained” to do a specific task. Tasks and training changes almost daily, the ability to learn and think, however, will always be needed. Hence why we do not, and should not, have a business or law school. Personally, I don’t even know that I’m super proud of the fact that we have a medical school, but I guess that can be justified due to the amount of research, and the addition to the body of human knowledge a medical school can provide.</p>