Professor Kristen Chamberlain, who, along with Marceleen Mosher, presented a paper this past week at the Popular Culture Association conference in Washington, D.C. Their topic? “Failing Infrastructures: The Hydrosocial Cycle and Water in the U.S.” Senior communication studies and political science student, Kristian Evans, ’19, also presented at the conference. His topic? “What if Joseph Campbell Could Dunk? A Rhetorical Analysis of the Narrative Constructed Around LeBron James” Chamberlain advised Evans on the project.
“Failing Infrastructures: The Hydrosocial Cycle and Water in the U.S.”
The water crisis in Flint, Michigan illuminated a startling concern across the United States of aging infrastructures and limited public investment. Residents lacked both the financial freedom to invest in their own community and a representative voice in the decisions that impact them. But Flint’s underlying problem is not unique. Our water infrastructure is at risk and buried out of sight in many modern-day, fiscally strapped communities – both literally and figuratively. This hidden landscape lies at the intersection of both the natural and built water supplies we all rely on. Grounded in the hydrosocial cycle, we seek to situate the inherent flaws in solving community water infrastructure challenges with budget forward approaches. It is critical for policymakers and community members to examine water in relation to its role in modern day society and its very stake in humanity’s survival.
“What if Joseph Campbell Could Dunk? A Rhetorical Analysis of the Narrative Constructed Around LeBron James”
Senior Kristian Evans presenting at the PCA conference.
LeBron James sits at the top of the American athletic hierarchy. No other star combines the same amount of talent, celebrity, and notoriety as James has since bursting onto the scene as a high school phenom in 2002 (“ESPN World Fame 100”, 2017). His life, from the blacktops of poverty-stricken Akron to NBA champion, has followed a narrative that aligns closely with Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey.” LeBron James has come to represent a symbol of the struggles and redemption of the city of Cleveland, the next generation of basketball superstars following Michael Jordan, and the continuation of a rich and complicated narrative of African-American athletes and their relationship social justice. Through this rhetorical analysis of sports media coverage, Nike advertising campaigns and other mediums that combine to perpetuate the myth that is LeBron James, one can both observe how these forces combine to tell a heroic story and better understand the usefulness of Campbell’s Heroic Journey as it pertains to modern day athletes.
The Twin Cities Film Fest demonstrated an extension of their partnership with Augsburg’s Film and New Media programs Saturday evening with exciting news for festival winners.
“Best of Show” was granted an automatic spot in the festival’s short program happening in October. Winners in several other categories were granted a free submission to the festival and an industry membership to the organization. The Twin Cities Film Fest is celebrating its 10th year supporting film and filmmakers in the Twin Cities.
Executive Director Jaitin Setia made the announcement to eager students, friends, and families to kick-off the screening. Also present, was Josh Dahlman, shorts programmer of the Twin Cities Film Fest, who served as a guest judge for this years Intercollegiate Festival.
Despite our technical difficulties, the Intercollegiate Film Festival delivered in a big way. This year’s festival received nearly 60 entries. Seven colleges were represented in the festival.
Entrants were judged on technical, creative, and aesthetic elements. David J. Buchanan and Josh Dahlman served as our guest judges.
Augsburg very own Lucia Davila served as our MC and a special guest from the Twin Cities Film Festival shared some exciting news with attendees (see our post TCFF to Support the Intercollegiate Film Festival). We are so proud to have the Twin Cities Festival as a partner and we look forward to celebrating their 10th Anniversary all year long, especially during the TCFF in the Fall.
WINNERS
Best of Show “#GAYBOY2019” by Noah Causey, University of MN
Best Narrative “Cycle” by Winston Heckt, Augsburg University
Best Documentary “On Writing” by Alya Ansari, Macalester College
Best Experimental “#GAYBOY2019” by Noah Causey, University of MN
Best Animation “The Silent Enemy” by Karina Kafka, Augsburg University
Best Screenplay “Fuck Public Restrooms” by Benjamin Kreibich, MCTC
Best Direction “Spies!” by Winston Heckt, Augsburg University
Best Sound “Amusement” by Joel Myers, Augsburg University
Best Cinematography “Call-in” by Ethan Vander Broek and Curtis Craven, MCAD
Best Editing “Call-in” by Ethan Vander Broek and Curtis Craven, MCAD
Responsible Filmmaking “It Was Just Love” by Anna Albitz, University of Minnesota
Audience Choice “Spirit of the Rubix” by Ezra Bebop, Augsburg University
The submission deadline for next year’s fest will be April 1st. The festival will be held on Saturday, April 18th. Visit FilmFreeway for more information.
Jenna McNallie is our resident expert on family communication, as well as the intersection between relationships and the media. Some of her work on maintaining sibling relationships–based on data collected from 300 siblings from across the U.S.–is highlighted on the following Psychology Today website:
The debut of the new banner at TCYMN – Walker Art Center.
Written by: Preston Peterson
Jenny L Hanson, director of film and new media, and Preston Peterson, new media major, represented Augsburg’s Film and New Media Department at the all youth film and video showcase put on by the Twin Cities Youth Media Network (TCYMN) and hosted by the Walker Art Center.
Augsburg met students from local high schools and TCYMN member organizations and learned about their work and interests. The event was held at the Walker Art Center on March 28 and featured work from member organizations CTV Teens, FilmNorth, MIGIZI, Perpich Center for Arts Education, Saint Paul Neighborhood Network, TPT, and WACTAC.
We are a proud supporter of TCYMN and love it when TCYMN students consider Augsburg as their place to tell stories.
Upper Midwest Student Production Award from the Upper Midwest Emmy Foundation for “Monday Train” Photo: Sarah Van Sickle
Written by: Sarah Van Sickle
Congratulations to all of the Augsburg students that were nominated for a Student Production Award from the Upper Midwest Emmy® Foundation! Nominations were announced today and Augsburg has six nominations in five categories. The Upper Midwest Chapter of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences recognizes outstanding achievement in student filmmaking. While Augsburg has been nominated before and won twice, this is the most nominations the University has ever received. The 2019 Student Awards Ceremony takes place on April 12th.
Augsburg nominations are as follows:
Short Form: Fiction
“Cycle,” directed by Winston Heckt; editing/sound by Lukas Olson; written by Lauren Tabor; and advised by Robert Cowgill.
“Fairy of the Night,” directed by Joel Myers and advised by Jila Nikpay.
Long Form: Fiction
“Take Me Home,” written/directed by Rebecca Lynn Schroeder; editing/sound by Lukas Olson; camera/editing by Winston Heckt; produced by Francesca Chiari; assistant director Meredith Carstens; production design by Olivia Drury; and advised by Jenny Hanson.
Commercial
“Lets Talk,” directed/produced by Adrianna Foreman and advised by Jenny Hanson.
Animation/Graphics/Special Effects
“Rodney and Jimmy and the Campfire,” directed by Joel Myers and advised by Jenny Hanson.
If you’ve ever wanted to perfect your speaking skills, travel to different schools and meet students from other schools, and have a lot of fun in the process, then Augsburg Forensics is for you! We encourage you to check out what being on the “speech team” has to offer. And–new for incoming students–we have forensics scholarships, from $3000 to $5000!
Augsburg’s Speech Team participates in 8-10 interscholastic speech tournaments each year in eleven different events, which include:
Interpretation Events
Dramatic Interpretation – Students interpret a piece of dramatic literature performed by one individual utilizing two or more characters.
Duo Interpretation – Two students interpret a cutting from a play.
Poetry – Students interpret a poem or a selection of poems.
Program Oral Interpretation – Students interpret a themed program containing two of the three interpretive genres (prose, poetry, drama).
Prose – Students interpret a piece of prose literature using a manuscript.
Limited-Preparation Events
Extemporaneous Speaking – Students give a five- to seven-minute speech on a domestic, international or economic topic, delivered after a half-hour preparation period.
Impromptu Speaking – Students have seven minutes to prepare and deliver an impromptu speech, usually on a familiar saying or significant quotation; may also be an object or cartoon.
Public Address Events
After-Dinner Speaking – Students deliver a humorous speech designed to entertain the audience while persuading or informing.
Communication Analysis – Students deliver a speech in which the speaker describes, interprets, and evaluates a speech or other rhetorical artifact.
Informative – Students deliver a speech that heightens the audience’s awareness of some subject.
Persuasive – Students deliver a speech designed to persuade the audience.
At Augsburg, you are welcome to set your own level of participation in the activity. If you only want to attend one or two speech meets per year, that’s fine, and if you want to go to 7 or 8, that’s good too! We are here to serve your needs and make being on the speech team a manageable and worthwhile experience.
If you’re interested in being involved with contest speech activities, contact David Lapakko, Director of Forensics, at lapakko@augsburg.edu
Augsburg University welcomes undergraduate students from around Minnesota to the annual Intercollegiate Film Festival.
The festival recognizes the work of student filmmakers and writers as part of an interconnected statewide film community. The festival provides networking opportunities and juried merit awards of distinction. The festival is organized by Augsburg University film scholars and juried by professors and industry professionals.
Entry Fee: $5.00 (free for Augsburg students with waiver code)
Submission Deadline: April 1st.
Intercollegiate Film Festival proudly accepts entries on FilmFreeway, the world’s #1 way to enter film festivals and creative contests.
Know the difference between film and video and digital media. At Augsburg University we teach filmmaking with film. If you hold a frame of film up to a light you’ll see an image. If you hold any videocassette up to a light all you’ll see is plastic. And if you try to hold a computer up to a light, may I suggest you use a laptop.
Know that film doesn’t have a R-E-C button. With film, you load a roll into the camera, calculate the f/stop with a light meter, focus, shoot, then unload the film and take it to a laboratory for developing. Once it’s exposed and developed, that’s it. With video and digital media you can press that red R-E-C button again and again to record and reuse it time after time. For those who didn’t know, R-E-C stands for record. Knowing that film can’t be re-recorded forces the novice filmmaker to plan out the project, rehearse the scene, and carefully consider the shot before pressing that shutter button. Oh by the way, film cameras have shutter buttons, not R-E-C buttons.
Know a favorite film inside and out. If you don’t have a favorite film, pick one. Once you have a favorite film watch it until you can quote lines or accurately describe sequences. Study the credits. Get to know who did what. Perhaps even do some research on all those technical jobs? Like what is a key grip anyway? Or what does a best boy do? Not only will this familiarity with a favorite film prepare you for studying film, you’ll have a ready-made answer for all those social gatherings where the typical question is: What’s your major?
Know the importance of sound recording and sound design in filmmaking. After you’ve watched your favorite film often enough that you can easily quote lines, watch it again but turn your back to the picture and just listen. If you can ignore the dialogue, that would be best. When you do this you’ll be amazed by what you’ll hear. A typical film has multiple layers of sounds, elements, and effects that normally go by unnoticed by casual audiences.
Know the three basic camera shots (wide, medium, and close up) and know the four basic camera moves (pan, tilt, truck, and dolly). Get a camera, any camera; still, digital, super 8, anything. You don’t need to shoot anything (though it would help) to practice framing shots and moving the camera. If you can locate a tripod, use it. Too many novice filmmakers don’t have the patience to properly set up their shots. They shoot their stories with a ‘quick and dirty’ hand-held camera and the end result looks it.
![[Image with text] Sideview of a hand working a laptop. "The Communicator" appears over the image](http://www.augsburg.edu/communication/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2019/03/TheCommunicator10802.jpg)
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