George Mason University

About Us

It''s obvious that movies, television, and the Internet have become an important part of everyday life. However, our approach to these powerful media is usually uncritical. We don''t think of them as "serious" in the way traditional academic subjects are--though ironically they have much greater impact on our lives. As a result, we tend to think that they''re not worth our intellectual time and effort. But in a century when many think the basis of knowledge will shift definitively from the written word to the image, nothing could be further from the truth.

If you want to know how these media really work, how they move and inspire us, and how they purvey certain ideas of race, class, gender, and sexuality--or if you''re just fascinated by them and want to understand the basis of your fascination--consider a minor in film and media studies. It''s a great adjunct to virtually any major, especially for students contemplating careers in education or communication.