Honors students have a new opportunity to gain deeper insight into the world of children’s
film through the “MODES: Children’s Film" class, taught by College of Education Assistant
Professor Tammy Mielke. The class, which examines films that have been adapted from
children’s literature, invites faculty and staff members from across campus to help
evaluate the various elements of film production.
Mielke’s specialty is children’s literature. Recently, she decided to create a course that evaluates how popular literature is adapted to film. But rather than sticking strictly to text, Mielke decided to bring in specialists to evaluate musical scores, costume design, cinematography, and social implications of children’s film.
“There are many incredibly talented people on campus,” Mielke says, “and film is a medium in which so many different specialties come into play. It made me think about the wealth of knowledge that we have on campus. And since this is an honors course where students from all over campus come together in a learning environment, I thought it would be interesting to rely on the expertise of people across campus.”
Mielke invited specialists from the UW Music Department, UW Department of Family and
Consumer Sciences, and UW Foundation marketing department to participate. She also
invited Associate Professor Lance Weldy from Francis Marion University, in South Carolina,
to discuss the adaptation of literature to film and Associate Professor Christopher
McGee from Longwood University, in Virginia, to evaluate the LEGO movie
and the role of children as consumers.
"I've always thought of UW as a faculty of family,” Mielke says. “Because of the generosity of my colleagues across campus, my students were able to reap the benefits of having access to a community of experts. As I see it, that is exactly what the mission of UW is meant to be.”
Mielke plans to offer the course again in the fall with similar guest speakers.
Photos:
Top: Professor Tammy Mielke lectures to her MODES: Children’s Film class about the book
Coraline by author Neil Gaiman and it’s adaptation from literature to film.
Bottom: Choir Professor Holly Dalrymple explains intonation to students and how various types
of music are used to evoke emotion in film.
