After yet another semester spent primarily online, it’s about that time once again to start thinking about advising and registration for next year. At least this time around, there’s a bit more hope of a return to normalcy and in-person instruction, though it is pretty insane that we’ve already reached the time to stress about what to sign up for.
Throughout my three years so far at Ohio University, I’ve become a big proponent of the idea that everyone should at least consider taking a film course during their time in college. I may be a bit biased seeing as I’m pursuing a film minor, but whether it’s for a requirement or a simple elective spot, the classes offer a lot in return for a small amount of stress in terms of workload.
Everyone is always so concerned about checking off as many requirements as they can for their chosen major, which is completely warranted. However, there’s more than enough wiggle room in the average four-year span at college to fit in a couple courses that are taken purely for enjoyment or personal interest. While certain recreation courses like canoeing or rock climbing may be more tempting at first glance, film courses are incredibly worthy options for a spare elective spot.
Even at the introductory level classes, which don’t require any prerequisites, they’re not necessarily super in-depth classes that will be overbearing on your entire semester. They’re introductions for a reason, and once you take even one, a whole slew of other options open up as well for those that may be interested in diving into the field with another course or two during the rest of their college career.
One of the best things about most film classes is, of course, the screenings. Not only do they often make for fun, easy homework — though, that’s definitely a perk — but they offer a lot of opportunity to watch films you may never have thought to or made the time to watch prior to taking the class. From film history to even an intro to documentaries, the screening lists compose of a lot of classics that span the decades of film.
Classics, or even movies that are considered well-done from critics’ viewpoints, often carry an aura of being tedious to get through. There usually seems to be this resistance to decide to sit down and watch them, but they’re considered classics for a reason. This isn’t to say everyone’s going to fall in love with every single film — personal taste always plays a factor — but at the very least, in the end, you can say you’ve seen them.
Not to mention, whether it’s one of the classics or a more obscure film, each screening is chosen for a specific reason, and the conversations and discussions that come from them are almost always incredibly engaging and enriching. Even if you didn’t personally care for whatever was shown, it’s interesting to talk about why it didn’t work for you while looking into the reasons it did for others.
Once an introduction course is under your belt, there’s even a wide array of skill classes that open up as options after that if you choose to opt for another film elective. From editing and screenwriting to audio production and even a seminar that enlists your help in planning the Athens International Film and Video Festival, there are countless options to look into and consider. Usually with just one introduction outing, they’re accessible to students of any experience level or major and are set in very low-stress environments.
So, with the end of the semester approaching and the next looming menacingly around the corner, consider looking into the film courses offered at OU in the course catalog for next year. You might be surprised what you find or can take, and in the grand scheme of college classes, they’re more than worth at least a try as one elective spot.
Jackson Horvat is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Jackson by tweeting him at @horvatjackson.
