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Meet Our Majors

Meet some of our Media Arts & Culture majors.

Amare Askerneese
Kenna Bacon Mirzayan

Jay Ward
Anna Jenemann

 

Amare Askerneese

Amare Askerneese headshot

Hometown: Menifee, CA
Major: MAC (production)

Have you taken part in any student research opportunities through Oxy?

Prof. Lin invited me to be part of an Undergraduate Research Center research project as a facilitator for a participatory media workshop. I worked with formerly incarcerated AAPI adults from the API RISE (Asian Pacific Islander Re-entry through Inclusion, Support, and Empowerment) community in Little Tokyo. I was tasked with teaching participants the technical and formal functions of filmmaking, the etiquette of working on a film crew, and other skills necessary for the participants to create and share their stories in an audio-visual format. 

The liberal arts lens of film study has shaped me to critically engage with the media that we cover in class in addition to deepening the framework of my film projects.

Did you study abroad? How did it enhance your education?

I had the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. I took classes through the university’s Media Arts & Humanities department, including courses on sound design, studying and critiquing creative practices, and a course that mirrored the process of senior comps through creating and shooting a ten-minute film. It was a perspective-shifting experience that taught me countless lessons about history, culture, and filmmaking that I never would have learned otherwise.

What do you find most compelling about studying MAC?

Coming to Oxy, I knew that filmmaking was what I wanted to pursue and the MAC department has given me that experience and more. The liberal arts lens of film study has shaped me to critically engage with the media that we cover in class in addition to deepening the framework of my film projects.

 

Kenna Mirzayan headshot

Kenna Bacon Mirzayan

Hometown: Incline Village, NV
Major: MAC (critical media) minor: Spanish

Can you describe your working relationship with MAC professors? Any standout classes you’ve taken? 

I love the MAC professors at Oxy. As a transfer student from a larger institution, I appreciate how Oxy encourages interpersonal communication between professors and students. The professors in the MAC department have always been available to answer any questions, and they consistently make sure that their students feel supported. Some of my favorite classes that I have taken within the MAC department are Topics in Media: Cultures of Protest and the Junior Seminar, taught by Prof. Marciniak and Prof. de Fren, respectively. Both of these courses helped to shape me into a better writer and critical media student, and I'm so grateful for them!

I love the MAC professors. As a transfer student from a larger institution, I appreciate how Oxy encourages interpersonal communication between professors and students.

Did you study abroad? How did it complement your education?

I studied abroad in Madrid during the fall of my junior year. Before I applied to programs, I was worried that I would be one of the only members of my major to study off-campus and that would get me behind on my major requirements. But, as I found out later, about half of my cohort ended up going abroad that semester. The MAC department centers international and interdisciplinary education, so we were encouraged to go abroad and explore film studies outside of the United States. I can say that going abroad was one of the best decisions I ever made, and I was able to do so because Oxy fostered an environment that supported me throughout the process. Living abroad and taking courses taught from a Spanish perspective broadened my approach to media and cultural studies.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to put you on this path? 

I am curious about the intersection between culture and language, and I see media as the perfect means by which to critically explore this connection. After Oxy, I want to teach abroad. I am passionate about education, and I want to make learning accessible and engaging for as many people as possible. The liberal arts education I have received at Oxy has definitely shaped me and my goals for life after college. The reason why I chose a liberal arts school like Oxy is because the liberal arts encourage an interdisciplinary, global perspective within and outside of the classroom. I have applied concepts and principles from my MAC courses to many other fields of study, and I am excited to continue learning outside of college!

 

Jay Ward headshot

Jay Ward 

Hometown: Loveland, CO
Major: MAC minor: religious studies

What was your motivation to major in MAC? 

I knew I wanted to study film before I came to Oxy, but the MAC classes I took my first year—along with the experience of competing in and winning the Oxy Film Fest—solidified my decision to major in MAC. It’s still unbelievable that I get to do my favorite thing, watch movies, as homework!

Can you describe your working relationships with MAC professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?

One of my favorite things about attending Oxy is the rapport I am able to establish with my professors, thanks to their efforts to engage with their students and the small class sizes. Through my first-year MAC gateway course with Prof. Fox, I was given the opportunity to present my film studies research at the 2024 National Conference for Undergraduate Research. Prof. Fox supported me through that process, from start to finish. I really enjoyed MAC 240: Intro to Media Practices with Prof. Lin, who is so inspiring and helpful as both a professor and as my academic advisor. My MAC professors have gone out of their way to foster a supportive community within the department and to connect students to career, academic, and artistic opportunities! All my MAC professors build opportunities for outside engagement (like visits to art exhibits and screenings of movies) into their courses. 

Whether I choose to go to grad school, into the film industry, or something else, my well-rounded Oxy education has taught me how to think, how to write, and how to tackle any challenges that come my way.

What do you find most compelling about studying MAC?

The way the major constantly motivates me to pursue my creative and academic interests despite any barriers I might face. The MAC department gave me the tools and expertise to develop my artistic vision and begin producing creative work. Even during periods of “writer’s block,” my MAC classes have given me new inspiration, broadening my horizons and deepening my understanding of and love for film and the arts. Sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in your ways artistically, but studying MAC drives me to step out of my comfort zone and explore new areas of study and new modes of creation. For example: I never thought I’d find myself binge-watching documentaries in my free time before I came to Oxy, but thanks to my MAC classes, I’ve found an appreciation for the genre and can say I’ve created documentary work of my own. 

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to put you on this path?

My career aspirations have shifted a lot during my time at Oxy—and I’m still not entirely sure what I want to do after graduation—but the best thing about Oxy is that you don’t have to have your future all figured out because the liberal arts approach prepares you for anything. In addition to my film-focused MAC classes, I have taken classes in history, math, religious studies, and many other subjects. Whether I choose to go to grad school, into the film industry, or something else, my well-rounded education has taught me how to think, how to write, and how to tackle any challenges that come my way.

 

Anna Jenemann headshots

Anna Jenemann

Hometown: Burlington, VT
Major: MAC minor: biology

What was your motivation to major in MAC? 

I came to Oxy originally undeclared and took a wide variety of classes. When I eventually took my first MAC course with Prof. Marciniak, Intro to Visual and Critical Studies, I knew that MAC was what I wanted to pursue. The class was a combination of theory, experimentation, critical thinking, and activism. It was the first course I took at Oxy that really embodied the liberal arts experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the material we were learning and looked forward to applying my knowledge to the media that I was constantly consuming.

The faculty works together to ensure their students succeed, and I have really appreciated feeling encouraged and supported by a team.

Can you describe your working relationships with MAC professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?

The MAC professors are incredible. I entered the major late and required a lot of support to complete certain requirements. Prof. Marciniak was unbelievably helpful and advocated on my behalf in order to get me to where I needed to be. The faculty works together to ensure their students succeed, and I have really appreciated feeling encouraged and supported by a team. In addition to feeling supported, MAC professors have urged me to push my limits and challenge myself. One of the standout classes I took was Media Activism Through Participatory Video with Prof. Lin, where I was introduced to a community partner and worked alongside them to motivate social change, an experience that has shaped my educational and personal life.

Have you taken part in any student research opportunities through Oxy? Can you describe your senior comps project?

As I mentioned, I was connected with a community partner in my Media Activism Through Participatory Video Class. This organization works with femme-identifying individuals living in Skid Row. Through this partnership, I had the opportunity to participate in arts engagement and local community building. I have continued this work and research through  Oxy’s Center for Community-Based Learning and am currently working on my senior comps, which is inspired by this field experience.

 

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To see more Meet Our Majors profiles, visit the main page.

Media Arts & Culture Alumni

 

Headshot of Manny Rothman

Manny Rothman

Hometown: Lewisburg, PA
Major: MAC (production); minor: theater

What was your motivation to major in MAC? Was there a specific inspirational moment or experience?

I've really loved filmmaking since I was a kid, so I guess I was always destined to be a MAC major. If I could think of a specific inspirational moment, that would be when I made a short film of a Pennsylvanian snowstorm as a child. I had this process of recording the screen that played a recording I took. I kept repeating this process, until I had this footage of seemingly "infinitely deep" footage, all going deeper and deeper into my computer monitor (similar to when you’re in a room with a mirror on each side). It was such a cool new way to see the world and it’s what encouraged me to keep using film as a method of seeing the world around me in new ways.

Can you describe your working relationships with MAC professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?

The professors in the MAC department are really great resources and fantastic instructors. One thing that makes the MAC department special, in my eyes, is the variety of instructors it has and how anyone could find a professor that resonates with them. I took "Introduction to Visual and Critical Studies” with Professor Katarzyna Marciniak and was floored with how much knowledge I had gained by the end of the semester. I found myself using the theories of what I learned in that class consistently in future courses and projects. I also really enjoyed Professor Aleem Hossain’s course, “Project-Based Mediamaking,” where we focused on the benefits of the process of filmmaking over the end-result. Both of these courses, though in different tracks of the MAC department, have shaped how I think of both analyzing and creating film.

One thing that makes the MAC department special, in my eyes, is the variety of instructors it has and how anyone could find a professor that resonates with them.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to shape these ambitions?

I would love to work as a narrative-based feature film editor post-Oxy. I am also interested in grad school and obtaining my Masters at some point in my career as an editor. Oxy’s interdisciplinary nature has allowed me to pursue my interest in theatrical lighting design, mathematics, art history, as well as filmmaking. At Oxy, I used these interests to inform how I create films, how I think of art, and who I want to collaborate with.

Do you have any advice for a student considering a major in MAC?

I would highly recommend really considering which track of the MAC department to join. For students like myself who are interested in creating stories and enjoy the technicality of the filmmaking process, I would recommend the Production Track. If you enjoy the process of analyzing, dissecting, and interpreting media and the theories under which they operate, I would recommend the Critical Theory Track. Regardless of what you pick, if you are a MAC major, I cannot express more the importance of spending time outside of class to work on your interests in film. If you are in the Production Track, make movies outside of class (like, all the time)! If you are in the Critical Theory Track, dissect movies outside of class and read up on theorists and critics that interest you! In my opinion, this major works best when you spend time outside of the department strengthening your skills as both a filmmaker and as a thinker.

What is the “vibe” of the MAC department?

The vibe of the department really depends on which professor you interact most with, and which classes you decide to take, which is one thing that makes the MAC department special. Depending on what courses you take, you can have an experience at Oxy that is rigorous and challenging, generative and thoughtful, creative and unexpected, or any combination of the above! The experience you can get from the MAC department is really up to you, your interests, and the time and effort you put into helping yourself grow as a filmmaker and thinker outside of class.

 

Headshot of Angelina Lee

Angelina Lee

Hometown: Naperville, IL
Major: MAC (production); minor: interdisciplinary writing

What was your motivation to major in MAC?

I’ve always loved scribbling fiction, and in high school I started obsessively taking pictures of everything with my phone, especially during the cooldown walk after I went jogging. I was also determined to watch as many films as I could in high school. Trying to write film reviews was puzzling and fun. Those interests definitely coalesced in my choice to major in MAC.

Can you describe your working relationships with MAC professors?

I feel really lucky to have working relationships with MAC professors for so many reasons. To discuss new films to better grasp this current cultural moment, to get feedback on outside projects, to steadily learn more about film through all of its avenues. All of the MAC professors encourage thinking complexly and constantly learning about “moving pictures.” Their obvious love for what they do is striking. I’m grateful for the sheer variety of MAC classes there are every semester. I’ve gotten to learn about topics I hadn’t even heard of before, like transnational cinemas, worldbuilding, remix documentary, photogrammetry, and much, much more.

Have you taken part in any student research opportunities at Oxy or elsewhere?

My Senior Comps project is a fiction short—it’s about trees! In a dystopian future in which humans live underground, an immersive new museum exhibit allows a sleep-deprived young professional and his girlfriend to discover trees for the first time. This entirely photoreal simulation propels him to consider what is lost in a human habitat without trees. I pitched the idea during the junior production class and developed the script over the summer. In the fall, we filmed on campus. We actually shot a scene in the early morning under one of the sprawling oak trees on the quad.

MAC really welcomes anyone fascinated by mediamaking and excited to learn more and experiment with the form.

What do you find most compelling about studying MAC?

One aspect is definitely media literacy. It boggles my mind how much I’ve learned about social media algorithms, data, visual rhetoric, and film history in the last few years. So much of online activities are image-based, and it feels urgent to learn more about these topics. Another thing I find really compelling in studying MAC is trying to grasp truly audiovisual storytelling. MAC professors and classes really push you to try to tell stories in the most visual way possible, stories that have to be told as films.

Do you have any advice for a student considering a major in MAC?

I would recommend not being intimidated or shying away from the major just because you might not have much experience with film before coming to Oxy. I remember worrying extensively that I wouldn’t belong in the major and the production track because I had little video making experience before my sophomore year. MAC really welcomes anyone fascinated by mediamaking and excited to learn more and experiment with the form.

 

Headshot of Louis Nguyen

Louis Nguyen

Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Majors: MAC (critical media studies) and music production

What was your motivation to major in MAC?

I knew I wanted to work in the more creative side of the entertainment industry, but I have such a wide range of interests that make narrowing it down rather difficult. But MAC, and especially my Critical Media Studies concentration, is great because of its versatility and active encouragement of exploration. Taking the gateway classes, “Intro to Digital Media & Culture” and “Intro to Critical & Visual Studies,” I see the interdisciplinary approach that the department takes to pretty much everything, and it resonates with me. I decided to major in MAC hoping that it’d narrow down my professional interests within the field I’m passionate about. It absolutely did!

Can you describe your working relationships with MAC professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?

The professors are always incredibly helpful and approachable. They always encourage creativity and have always been incredible in supporting even the most ambitious ideas. For example, in my “Migration Media” class with Professor Lin, I made a website that contains audio interviews, detailing the displacement international students faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. She worked with me through my non-existent coding experience and sent me so many resources, on and off campus, to help me finish the project. Another example would be my 360 video class with Professor Hossain where I made a dance VR film allowing viewers to take the perspective of different body parts through a choreographed routine. With his VR expertise, he offered so much creative and technical guidance and even adjusted his project restrictions so that I could create my film how I envisioned it!

The professors are always incredibly helpful and approachable. They always encourage creativity and have always been incredible in supporting even the most ambitious ideas.

Can you describe your senior comps project?

For my senior project, I wanted to explore something personal to me. So, as an Asian president of Oxy’s sketch comedy club, I’m writing my paper about the politics of representation in recent Hollywood Asian comedies.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to shape these ambitions?

Post-Oxy, I want to work in TV development. It’s the stage before a show goes into production where ideas are solidified, and scripts are finalized. It resonates with me because this is where I get to flex all the creative muscles that the liberal arts education has given me. I’ve had quite a few internships in TV development departments in different facets of the industry. Throughout these experiences I took in critical conversations surrounding representation in TV. My liberal arts education provided me with the critical skills to articulate my thoughts and contribute to such meetings. I’ve had great conversations about my senior comps project with so many people I’m meeting at my current internship at HBO Max!

Do you have any advice for a student considering a major in MAC?

Take initiative! The major covers such a broad range of topics, what you want to do with it is really up to you. This versatility can be used to your advantage. The professors are there to help with anything you need: career guidance, grad school, independent projects, etc. Also really plan and be strategic about what classes you have to take and when you have to take them because MAC classes are very popular and fill up so quickly!

 

Headshot of Frannie Dibona

Frannie DiBona

Hometown: Bainbridge Island, WA
Major: MAC (critical media studies); minor: education

What was your motivation to major in MAC?

I joined the MAC major because I was interested in marketing and believed that this could provide me with opportunities in the entertainment and media industries in Los Angeles. However, after my first gateway course, I realized that I was truly interested in critical media studies and being able to study other subjects like sociology, philosophy and theory through media was much more conducive to my interests and pursuits as it allowed me to center my critiques on intricate objects as well as add a creative facet to my studies.

Can you describe your working relationships with MAC professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?

I have created my most meaningful professor relationships within the MAC department. I took my first gateway course with Professor Marciniak, and she took interest in the way I thought about things and pushed me to take my ideas further in the work I did for her. Now, as my comps professor, she's been incredibly supportive, always providing me with the resources and support that I need to make my project something successful that I also enjoy doing. Taking Professor Lin’s “The Female in Japanese Film and Media” truly changed my life. She was one of the first professors to really see long-term potential in the ideas I had about the world and the media and encouraged me to consider graduate programs in film and media studies. I've taken multiple classes with her and I've been able to learn about subjects I wouldn't have otherwise considered like participatory video and migration media—subjects which I now involve in my work across disciplines and the department.

The best part of a liberal arts education is the interdisciplinary education and being able to apply the theory you learn in your major and minor classes to many other areas of study.

Have you taken part in any student research opportunities at Oxy or elsewhere?

I'm currently completing my Senior Comps. My project, “Food as Inedible Spectacle: Culinary Tourism in the Digital Space,” takes a critical look at street food videos posted to platforms like YouTube and Instagram and attempts to understand the implications of seeing the creation of food as foreign spectacle. This spring, I will be taking a position as an EIA (a CCBL role that's sort of like a research-focused TA) for “Media Activism through Participatory Video.” After my comps are completed I hope to use my summer and senior year to expand my research into the question: how do we experience the consumption of food as spectacle in the digital space?

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to shape these ambitions?

I want to continue on into graduate studies. I've always been interested in education and I have so many questions about the world of film and media that I both want to try to answer myself, but also want to collaborate with students with similar interests to me. Being able to teach and foster curiosity about the world in others is where my ambition has always pointed me. The best part of a liberal arts education is the interdisciplinary education and being able to apply the theory you learn in your major and minor classes to many other areas of study. For example, I watched the documentary Icarus for a philosophy class that concerned bioethics, but I found myself having discussions not only about the ethics of doping, but also the ethics of documentary filmmaking and filmmakers intervening in a narrative—something I'd been studying that semester in the MAC department.

Do you have any advice for a student considering a major in MAC?

Be sure to take the gateway classes ASAP if you have any interest in the department! 146 is a great introduction to media theory and dramatically changed the way I think about the world. Also, I’m totally biased here but really consider the Critical Media Studies track! Our section of the department is really open to the weirder visual ideas—in my comps class, we have students doing 360 video and participatory filmmaking as well as students doing the traditional video essays and written works. All of us are taking a more critical look at the media objects and practices we're engaging with on a daily basis; the production department is the place to go if you want to pursue a more narrative visual comps project!

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