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Weekly Coffee House’ offers healing doctors can’t By Waynette Gladden Staff Writer II * s shocking to see young children at a concert wearing hospital gowns and toting an IV behind them as comfort ably as students carry their book bags. But for the children who attended the latest Coffee House,” sponsored by NC Memorial Hospital, it’s more than music they came for it’s the healing that no shot or pill can offer. Every fourth Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the hospital’s Guitar Club, Employee Recreation and Recreation Therapy present live music for patients, hospital staff and visitors in the ninth floor Recreation Center. The musicians include hospital staff, visitors and even patients. There is no structured band; this is a bona fide jam nMPhr*nitai Mkni||iNjj|i Mr m apw new focus tor department INTRODUCTION The Department of Radio, Televi sion and Motion Pictures is an aca demic department in the Division of Fine Arts of the College of Arts and Sciences. For nearly 45 years the De partment has been the center of re search, service and teaching in the elec tronic and film media on the Chapel Hill campus. The Department was created by Professor Earl Wynn, who envi sioned a communication center which would combine service facilities for audio, video and film production for the campus in addition to research and teach ing both undergraduates and graduate students at the M.A. level. Professor Wynn and others created WUNC-FM radio and WUNC-TV (later becoming the state public television network). Over time, the mission of the Depart ment changed as the radio station and the television network were transferred to other administrative structures and the media services were assumed by the Center for Teaching and Learning. As new faculty joined the Department, other areas of research and teaching were created which were not organically tied to broadcasting. These included critical studies, cultural study, studies of race, gender and class, examination of new technologies, etc. While the faculty re tains strength in all aspects of broad casting and film (production, manage ment, history, law, ethics), the develop ing field of Cultural Studies has gained the interest of the faculty. The faculty members have debated the future direction of the Department for more than two years. At a retreat in the fall of 1991, strong interest was expressed in developing in the area of Cultural Studies. By Cultural studies we mean the study of contemporary culture which is shaped by piediated. communication. The generally accepted anthropological definition of culture as the way of life of a people, the sum of their learned behaviorpattems, attitudes and material things and the statement by Edward T. Hall that "culture is com munication" might be guiding principles for this research direction. While a ma jor concern of the faculty is with the relationship of mediated communica tion to cultural patterns, Cultural Stud ies are not necessarily limited to this relationship. We look to those British scholars such as, Raymond Williams, E.P. Thompson, Richard Hoggart, Stuart Hall whose seminal works originated the field. The original work of the Cen tre for Contemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham and the Media Group of the University of Clasgow also shaped the field. In addi tion to the intellectual ferment from the United Kingdom we see the field strongly influenced by such continental cultural theorists as Michel Foucualt, Pierre Bourdieu, Jurgen Habermas and Jacques Ellul. Some 30 years of intel lectual work has produced a substantial body of theory. Now the quality and volume of contributions to theory from American scholars is adding substance and new directions to the field. The faculty of the RTVMP Department be lieve this is a critical period in the devel opment of Cultural Studies and are con vinced that the reshaping of this depart ment to devote itself to this field would provide an exciting opportunity for the Department, the University and national (j#)PTICIANS-T—■ Spring ' > Offer good thru Friday, March 12,1993 >• Mo special orders >• In-stock items only ► Non-prescription only . 235 Elliott Rd. • 968-4775 • 968-4776. session where nothing is rehearsed and any musician who shows up is allowed to play. Instruments vary from electric guitars to harmonicas. The interesting twist to the perfor mance is the audience. Hospital pa tients ranging from children to senior citizens and their nurses eagerly come to listen and enjoy. They are bum vic tims, cancer patients, psychiatric pa tients and others being treating at the hospital. Some wearing street clothes are distinguishable as patients only by hospital band around their wrists. During a rendition of “House of the Rising Sun,” performed at the February coffee house, lyric sheets were handed out. One patient actually picked up an acoustic guitar and played along. He sang his own rock-ballad version of “Jesus Loves Me” on the acoustic gui scholarship. The faculty is also committed to a Program in Documentary Studies as the other part of the restructured depart ment. This program at both the under graduate and the M.A. level would be intellectually rigorous. It will empha size research on the subjects of docu mentary, script writing, preproduction and production in the appropriate and available media (such as audio, still photos, film and video). Students would be expected to produce documentaries for public presentation and critique. The connection to Cultural Studies would take numerous forms, such as the devel opment of a subject out of current re search and serving as a medium for the presentation of research. The Program in Documentary would combine intel lectual and artistic work from the social sciences, humanities and fine arts. The faculty, in planning to meet the chal lenges of the next century recognize that new technologies are making fun damental changes in all aspects of hu man relationships. A rapidly develop ing change in a modal one toward interactivity with the technology. Lin ear programming is yielding to an envi ronment in which the viewer is an active participant in selecting the information that is received. Current research in human-computer interaction, multi media databases and networking and data compression and transmission is propelling the fields of Media and Com munication further into this mode every day. These new technologies obviously have profound consequences for con temporary culture and the construction of mediated communication and the functioning of organizations and insti tutions. The University of North Caro lina at Chapel Hill has already made a substantial commitment to information technologies with advanced computing facilities and research, participation in the state-wide CONCERT video tele conferencing and a proposed compre hensive multi-year plan for extending an electronic pathway of all digitized information to all of the UNC campuses as well as the UNC Center for Public Television and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Asa result of their deliberations the faculty is prepared to recommend a plan for a renamed department, indeed anew department, which would combine Cul tural Studies and Documentary Studies within the context of new technologies. NAME The faculty propose to change the name of the department to THE DE PARTMENT OF MEDIA STUDIES. This name is more descriptive of the program that is being proposed. It is becoming a part of the popular vocabu lary; increasingly new students are ask ing about "Media Studies" courses. In addition several Universities have newly created departments with that name. The name is shorter and less cumber some than the existing Department name. UNDERGRADUATE - PROGRAM At the Undergraduate level the fac ulty proposes a program with two em phases which are complimentary to one another: Cultural Studies and Docu mentary Studies. We believe we can begin to build both areas from our exist tar. The Coffee House is entertainment for hospital visitors, too. “I’ve been in bands all my life, and I thought I’d come up here and listen,” said Curtis Buchanan, 26, of Brevard. Buchanan’s mother is receiving a lung transplant, and during a visit, he read about the Coffee House on a flyer. Later, he joined in with two “progressive blue grass” ballads on the acoustic guitar. The Coffee House is important to both patients and musicians. For the musicians, it is a chance to meet other musicians and perform. For the patients, it’s therapy. Michele Barr, a recreation therapist, said the guitarists are a great way to divert patients’ attention from theirpain. The Coffee House provides an escape for them and allows them to enjoy them ing faculty, with anticipated new fac ulty to add greater depth in particular areas as positions become available. Further, we believe this emphasis is entirely consistent with our position in the Division of Fine Arts. The Department of Media Studies would offer a B.A. degree which would consist of courses in Media and Cul tural studies, for example, an introduc tory course on media and contemporary culture; gender, race and class studies (or culture conflict), culture and new technologies, image ethics, taste cul tures, image analysis. We would antici pate these courses would have strong appeal for a wide range of undergradu ate students. At the present time the Department teaches a Social Science Perspective and a Fine Arts Perspective for die General College and a Non westem Historical perspective for the College of Arts and Sciences. Courses from the program in Media and Con temporary Culture would meet the re quirements for the General Education curriculum. The Program in Documentary is an other essential part of the new under graduate program. Documentary study could involve a type of oral history, an exhibit of photographs expressing an issue, a political or cultural movement, problem or artistic vision. It would even tually involve video and film documen tary productions. Present faculty mem bers, who include experienced and ac tive documentary filmmakers, will teach in both the Undergraduate and the Graduate Documentary studies program in addition to producing their own work. with the present severe limitations of our film and video equipment and the absence of an adequate budget for new equipment the Department cannot sus tain both undergraduate and graduate film and video production. We are hope ful this restrictive environment will be short-lived. A plan for multimedia labo ratories using new technology is pre sented in the appendix. The program in documentary would be intellectually rigorous. It will em phasize research on the subject, script writing, pre-production and basic pro duction techniques. Students would be expected to produce productions in media available to them (such as still photos, audio, etc.) for public presenta tion and critique The connection to cul tural studies would take numerous forms: developing a subject (such as, the meaning of popular music for ado lescents, media and the development of taste cultures, the Southerner in the American collective unconscious), re search techniques, interviewing tech niques, etc. North Carolina and the Southeast have rich literary traditions. On this campus the Program in Folklore and a new Center for the Study of Southern Culture (which has just been established) could provide advice and stimulation for the production of a wide variety of documentaries. REAL ESTATE ANALYST PROGRAM Before You Go Back For Your MBA, Give Yourself A Head Start If you plan on taking some time before pursuing your MBA, take a look at this opportunity from The Prudential. This is a challenging 2-year program where highly motivated BAs and BSs (who are planning to apply to top business schools in 1995) with at least a B+ or better undergraduate GPA and a strong mathematical aptitude, gain valuable hands-on real estate investment experience. An intensive training program will help prepare you for a variety of real estate modeling and financial evaluation assignments. As one of the nation's largest real estate investors, we can offer you an attractive starting salary and out standing comprehensive benefits along with the oppor tunity to work with top investment professionals. To apply, send your resume and a copy of your col lege transcript by March 10,1993 to: Georgelle Fletcher, The Prudential Realty Group, One Revinia Drive, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30346-2110. An equal opportunity employer. The Prudential Realty Group Move Up To The Rock ™ selves as they might out in the commu nity, she said. It’s a chance for patients to socialize and forget their problems. Joy Preslar, a cardiology technician, coordinates the musicians for the Cof fee House. “We try to be very patient-conscious, but at the same time make them feel that they’re getting the same format that they would outside the hospital,” she said. The Coffee House began as an outlet for the Guitar Club to perform. Ban joined the club and suggested that it would be good therapy for patients. Late last summer, they organized and the Coffee House began. Calling all musicians: if you would like a great chance to perform for a worthwhile cause, contact Preslar at 966-5123. Assistant Chairman/Development officer The program in documentary should also facilitate the production of quality documentaries by faculty. Therefore, the Department should designate an assistant chairman with a reduced teach ing load who be responsible for identi fying and negotiating with funding sources for documentaries and research. GRADUATE - PROGRAM 1. Master of Arts degree The Department of Radio, Televi sion and Motion Pictures has offered a Masters of Arts degree for more than 20 years. Alumni of this program are now leaders in the broadcasting and film industries. The faculty feel strongly that the Masters Degree should continue, but with a more narrow focus, one that would be consistent with the mission of the Department. The faculty proposes that the M.A. degree become a Masters in Indepen dent Documentary. As the program de velops the faculty believe it should in clude history and theory of documen tary, research techniques (which could included a course from the Program in Folklore on The Art of Ethnography and from the History Department on an Introduction to Historical Research), production techniques and a final major production thesis. With careful man agement of the resource utilization we believe this program will be a high quality Masters program which will meet a need for advanced training in documentary film/video. It has the po tential to open up opportunities to gradu ate students not previously available at Carolina. Details of the program should be developed over the next two years. 2. Ph.D. in Cultural Studies Two years ago the faculty proposed a new Ph.D. program in Cultural Studies in cooperation with the Department of Speech Communications However, the faculty of that Department wished to develop their own departmental Ph D program which would provide training in their discipline. A recent survey has demonstrated Laserset Resumes slsl page •One day service •Kept on file for 2 years • Rushes possible *l, C.O. COPIES Open 7 Days A Week 169 E. Franklin SI. • Near the Post Office l 967-6633 J The Daily Tar Heel/Tuesday, March 2, 1993/ mmj • > -iiiJflßliSiiP Ken Shauger and Joy Preslar jam at a recent Coffee House wide-spread interest in the field of Cul tural studies on this campus and at Duke University. The faculty feel this is the time to begin planning for a Ph.D. Our proposal consists of the following. A Center for Media and Contemporary Cultural Studies should be created with a connection to the new Department of Media Studies. The Center would so licit and receive research grants and would house the Ph.D. program. Plan ning for the program and policy formu lation would be determined by a board of 10 active Cultural Studies research ers from the University of North Caro lina and Duke University. Faculty ac tive in Cultural Studies but appointed in other departments (such as sociology, history, Political Science, Anthropol ogy, Art, etc.) would receive appoint ments as adjunct professors to the Cen ter and would serve as the faculty for the Ph.D. program. The Center would have a director, who would be on the faculty of the Department of Media Studies. This organization was suggested by the Communications program at the Uni versity of Illinois, which is housed in the Institute for Communications Re search and faculty from various disci plines relating to Communications. The details of both the Masters in Documentary Studies and the Ph.D. in Media ahd Contemporary Culture would be developed under the leadership of a new chairman of the Department, yet to be selected. It should be possible to begin the Ph.D. Program within five years, assuming approval of the UNC- Chapel Hill administration and trustees and the Board of Governors. Is Ik Lack MMiß ¥ I’ullif Lour Budget? DONATE PLASMA and earn up to S3B (regular donor) or $33 (buddy plan donor) a week. SERA-TEC BIOLOGICALS 109 1 / 2 E. Franklin St. 942-0251 Start Your Marketing Career On Campus Large, Southern California based advertising agency needs campus Marketing Representative for various K-Swiss Athletic Footwear and Apparel products. If you're outgoing, "well connected" on campus and can handle part time work, this is an opportunity to jump start your career. For an on-campus interview, please fax a letter and resume to (404) 814-0309 -- attn. College Marketing Department. CONCLUSION The RTVMP faculty are greatly en couraged at the possibility of a vital and exciting new direction for the Depart ment. With the very rapid change in technology which will no doubt impact cultural patterns (are we facing the end of mass communications?) there is a need for creative thought about the fu ture place of communication and cul tural studies within the academy. We believe the proposed restructuring which we have outlined will provide the frame work to meet the challenges of the present and the future and will provide the kind of clearly defined mission to permit the achievement of distinction as a national leader in the field. w© core hair 306 BW. Franklin St. [Formerly Fowlers Market) Student/Faculty Days Wednesday & Sunday *6- 95 WETCUT with ID • regularly $8 No appointment necessary Mon.-Fri. 9-9 • Sat. 9-6 • Sun. 10-5 932-3900 5
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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March 2, 1993, edition 1
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