Travel Report for Tina's Research Trip to Madison, Wisconsin - September

The start of the semester also meant I finally had the opportunity to experience American college life firsthand. Our associate member, Prof. Jonathan Gray, is offering a course this semester on “Global Media Cultures,” and I’m fortunate to listen in on the classes. The topics align perfectly with my research, and I’ve already gained some new ideas that I can incorporate into my dissertation. I’m also attending a lecture as a guest student taught by Prof. Jeff Smith on the cinematic and literary influences of the Coen brothers—the directors known for their unconventional films such as Fargo, Miller’s Crossing, and The Big Lebowski. In addition to the courses, the colloquium in the Department of Communication Arts has also begun. I’ve already had the opportunity to speak with and get to know scholars in my field, and I’m looking forward to presenting my own work at the end of November.

There were other exciting developments as well: UW-Madison is home to the Cinematheque, a film screening program dedicated to showcasing the best works of international cinema in Madison. The program ranges from timeless classics to premieres of international films—this fall, the Cinematheque screened, among other titles, Letty Lynton, which hadn’t been shown in over 90 years, as well as the latest film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. The Cinematheque has kindly offered to help promote our project and recruit additional participants for our study. To that end, I’ll be giving a short live pitch before some of the screenings (next up: Carrie!), handing out postcards, and there’s also an online call for participation on their blog. Check out their fantastic program, and if you’re in the area, be sure to stop by a screening!

At the end of the month, I also had a visit from back home—my sister and I met up in Chicago and spent three days there, visiting the Art Institute, taking a walk along the riverbank, and, of course, going to the movies (Resident Evil!). After that, we spent another weekend in the Wisconsin Dells, a small town known for its water parks and the Wisconsin River. Both trips were a great opportunity to see more of the U.S. and, of course, to spend time with family.