Film and Media Studies Commons^™

What's The Art In Artificial Intelligence?, Emily Verla Bovino

Open Educational Resources

This workbook learns from Black and Indigenous artists working with Artificial Intelligence to confront issues of ethics and aesthetics in its technologies. It features guided learning activities with links to publicly available video lectures and online articles, and includes options for experiential learning through both a tutorial in Midjourney and a visit to the public art collection at York College in Jamaica, Queens. Featured artists include: American Artist, Rizvana Bradley, Beth Coleman, Denise Ferreira da Silva, Suzanne Kite, Sondra Perry, Mimi Onuoha and Alisha B. Wormsley. Works by Martin Puryear and Maren Hassinger are explored in the Midjourney exercise.

About …

Banr, Chris Deacy

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Banr (2025), directed by Erica Xia-Hou.

Portal To Hell, William L. Blizek, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Portal to Hell (2025), directed by Woody Bess.

Bita Joon, William L. Blizek, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of the short film Bita Joon (2024), directed by Sara Boutorabi.

2025 Slamdance Film Festival Introduction, William L. Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

Introduction to the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival.

Social Media Influencers' Impact On Purchasing Decisions, Kennedi Kutz, Erin Flynn, Kiara Espinal, Julia Cheney

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

The study conducted entails how the usage of social media and the parasocial relationships with social media influencers impact the audience’s purchases as a consumer. The survey covers a wide range of questions discussing the different social media platforms, how often they engage on these platforms, and how often they click and engage with advertisements and influencers. It also covered questions that collected the demographics of the participants to give a better understanding of which groups are more likely to be influenced by advertisements and influencers. We have found that younger audiences are more likely to have their consumer purchases …

Italian Culture Through Film, Monica Rossi-Miller

Open Educational Resources

Introduction to important themes of Italian culture by viewing and analyzing
representative Italian films from the post-World War II era to the present. Topics examined include: the Italian family, how World War II has shaped contemporary Italian culture, Italy as a country of emigrants and immigrants, and an examination of religion and the Catholic Church.
This is a Writing Intensive course conducted in English, and all films have English subtitles.

A Writing Intensive Course Specifically is a designated course sections that—in addition to providing the established disciplinary-oriented student outcomes—incorporate approved instructional strategies and course assignments designed to enhance students’ writing …

Video Poem: What Remains, Edie Steiner

The Goose

What Remainsis a three-minute poetry film I created to address the issue of “becoming-with” (Wright 2014). In the film, I document two large-scale, public-art spectacles I witnessed in Toronto, as historical markers of collective becoming-with. I contrast super-8mm film footage of the 1984 outdoor public performance “Shibola” at the Bell Trinity Square building in Toronto, by the Japanese Butoh dance group Sankai Juku, with digital video of “A Tribute to Toronto,” Judy Chicago’s 2022 Smoke Sculpture on the Toronto waterfront. I then intercut these images with digital recordings of ruins and relics, both ancient and modern, merging as …

Beach Finds, Gina M. Granter

The Goose

This photo series, Beach Finds, is all from the beach of my hometown in Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland, from walks I took in the early spring of 2021. Particularly after storms, there would be an abundance of garbage washed ashore. I found a stick from a Buried Treasure ice cream treat that I had not seen since the 1980s; fabric flowers that had blown from the town’s seaside cemeteries into the water and back to land; hand-woven fishing nets that were now grounded; a tampon applicator that reminded me of the first one I ever saw as a child, on …

The Impact Of War On Innocence, Khanh Luong

CAFE Symposium 2025

Grave of the Fireflies, directed by Isao Takahata, focuses on the impact of war on innocent civilians, specifically children, rather than on battles or acts of heroism. The film establishes a tone of powerlessness from the start. This poster examines the symbolism of fireflies in the movie and the destruction of innocence throughout the movie. The film reflects the childhood trauma of both the movie's writer and the director.

The Valley Of The Wind And Buddhism, Grace Aulicino

CAFE Symposium 2025

Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a philosophical exploration of fulfillment, rooted in Buddhist and Taoist principles. The film contrasts the destructive forces of greed and individualism, embodied by Kushana and the Tolmekians, with the harmonious collectivism of the People of the Valley of the Wind. Nausicaä, the film’s heroine, challenges traditional gender norms by being a strong, selfless leader who seeks peace and balance rather than power. Her journey reflects the Taoist ideal of surrender as a path to enlightenment, ultimately sacrificing herself to unite humanity and nature. Through stunning visuals and rich storytelling, Miyazaki …

Ethical Problems Of Enforcing Justice In Death Note And Psycho-Pass Anime, Aldiyar Alen

CAFE Symposium 2025

What happens when justice is controlled by a single person or a powerful system? This research explores how Death Note and Psycho-Pass show the dangers of extreme justice. In Death Note, Light Yagami takes the law into his own hands, believing he can create a perfect world by eliminating criminals. In Psycho-Pass, an advanced AI system judges people before they even commit crimes, deciding their fate based on predictions. Both systems aim to reduce crime but end up threatening personal freedom and fairness. By comparing these stories, this study highlights the risks of justice without balance, questioning how …

Pom Poko: When Nature Speaks Out Against Urbanization, Sabrina Huynh

CAFE Symposium 2025

Pom Poko highlights the correlation between the survival of nature and the progress of humanity. Therefore, by showing different dynamic relationships like Gonta’s aggressive way of fighting against or peaceful co-existence of Shoukichi, Pom Poko suggests viewers may feel that humans should find a way to live harmoniously with the environment.

Isekai: Discovering Factors That Contributed To Its Success And Diving Into The Mentality Of Contemporary Japanese Citizens, Anh Duc Nguyen

CAFE Symposium 2025

Isekai, an anime and manga genre where characters are transported to another world, has become popular in recent years. This paper examines the factors contributing to this phenomenon, exploring how isekai works resonate with contemporary Japanese citizens. It argues that the genre's appeal lies in its ability to offer escapism from societal pressures, particularly those stemming from economic hardship and a lack of perceived agency. By analyzing important and known isekai works, including Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken, this paper demonstrates how the genre fulfills a desire of the Japanese for fulfillment and sense of agency. Furthermore, it explores …

How Do Literary And Cinematic Monsters Reveal The Fear Of The Instability Or Distortion Of Human Identity?, Arya Kc

CAFE Symposium 2025

Throughout history, monsters have both disturbed and captivated humanity. Initially defined by their grotesque physical forms, monsters have evolved to symbolize deeper psychological fears, often reflecting the instability or distortion of human identity. This project examines the shifting portrayal of monstrosity in literature and film, focusing on works like Frankenstein, Dracula, and Alien. By blurring the line between human and monstrous, these stories reveal the fragility of human identity and expose our profound fears of psychological and existential instability, challenging us to confront what it truly means to be human.

2025 Sundance Film Festival Introduction, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

Introduction to our coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival

Ragamuffin, William L. Blizek, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of the short film, Ragamuffin (2025), directed by Kaitlyn Mikalya.

Stereotypes Of Female Characters In Disney, Merouge Hazem Elboraie

The Undergraduate Research Journal

The depiction of female characters in Disney films has undergone a significant transformation throughout the decades, reflecting societal shifts and changing perceptions of gender roles. As young girls tend to idolize fictional female characters, ensuring a healthy portrayal of women in animated films is crucial. This paper aims to discuss the portrayal of female characters in Disney movies within certain frames and their impact on the general public through a case analysis of literature reviews. It underscores the dynamic interplay between societal change and cinematic narratives, particularly in Disney. The research’s findings indicate that the negative portrayal of Disney female …

20250205: Marshall Artist Series, 2016-2024, Marshall Artist Series

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the office of the Artist Series at Marshall University from 2016-2024. Items were received in 2025. Items include movie-sized posters of the programs from the Artist Series, including Piff the Magic Dragon, Mikey Day, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and more. Please download the finding aid for a full list of contents.

B(L)Ind The Sacrifice, William L. Blizek, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of the short film, B(l)ind the Sacrifice (2025), directed by Nakhane.