An Informal Lesson in Deconstructing Identity, Culture and Popular Media
Offering students the opportunity to engage on campus for a recent film screening at Trent University Durham GTA was a highlight of the fall term to date for Dr. Scott Henderson, dean and head of Trent Durham.
The event, a film screening and discussion of the anime film your name., led students through a deconstruction of postmodern themes and also provoked consideration as to why critical analysis of media is a significant skill to have.
“We live in a very visual culture; there is so much more to extract from talking about popular media,” explained Dean Henderson. “Lateral thinking is important- you have to be able to contextualize any work you are doing. After all, accountants have to account for something. Those numbers mean something.”
Hosting the event in the new learning space was a significant moment for Dean Henderson, who hopes to continue the academic-inspired event series. His vision for future events includes bringing in guest speakers from a variety of disciplines to provide a robust foundation for students with an interest in examining issues with a critical thinking lens.
Students who enjoyed the recent film screening event may also be interested in a new course being offered in the January 2020 term—20-to-1: Critical Engagement UNIV1004H. This small class, with one professor and no more than 20 students, is open to first-year students and will be offered in-person with new sections now open for registration for the winter 2021 term. The Durham section is led by Dean Henderson and focuses on pop culture.
“Trent is a community that is all about the exchange of ideas, and is unique in the sense that we offer comprehensive education that allows students to expand their horizons via electives, options, or through joint majors,” said Dean Henderson. “This is vital to their success moving forward. The real world isn’t always A to B—a range of knowledge is always an asset. That’s why a course like this is so valuable; it allows students to academically discuss areas such as pop culture and other influences in their life.”
Visit the online Trent event calendar to learn about upcoming film screening dates.
Posted on November 3, 2020