Emerson to take part in cinema and media studies conference

Emerson College will play an integral role in the Society for Cinema and Media Studies’ (SCMS) annual conference being held at Boston’s Park Plaza Hotel March 21–25.

Associate Professor of Visual and Media Arts Eric Schaefer is chair of the Boston–based host committee and all together ten full- and part-time Emerson faculty and staff members are participating in panels or workshops. Additionally, many of the conference’s special events will take place at Emerson venues.

More than 1,600 media scholars from around the United States and many other countries are expected to attend the conference, which provides a forum for scholars and teachers of film and media studies to present, hear, and discuss new research. It also promotes the field of cinema and media studies among its various practitioners to other disciplines and the public at large.

“Film and media are the largest programs at the College and this is an important professional organization,” said Schaefer. “It’s a good opportunity for Emerson to assert its leadership in the field.”

Conference events at Emerson include a showcase of footage from several Northeast–based moving image archives in the Bright Family Screening Room on March 23 and 24 (open to the Emerson community and other local film and media students), an ArtsEmerson screening to celebrate the 40th anniversary of distribution company Women Make Movies on March 23 (tickets available through ArtsEmerson), and a special performance by Boston’s own Alloy Orchestra accompanying The Last Command (1928) on the Paramount Mainstage on March 24 (some seats will be reserved for ArtsEmerson members).

Schaefer will also be awarded the 10th annual SCMS Service Award for “sustained commitment to the Society” during the conference. He has been a member for more than 20 years.

Conference events being held at Emerson have been made possible by the Visual and Media Arts Department, the School of the Arts, and the Office of the President.