New and upcoming features on the blog include:

• More and better content displayed in a visual way that reflects better what is going on in The Department of Communication and English.
• Student Film and Digital Media work featured on the home page in a rotating video carousel and available in channels.
• A gallery of student photography, graphic design, illustration, and digital art.
• Featured faculty work
• A gallery with links to featured student web and interactive projects.
• A Careers Resources page to help point our students in the right direction when looking for jobs and internships in their chosen field.
• A new Facebook Page to go with the blog that will be updated regularly. (Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/aurcomblog )

Please stop by and pay the site a visit.  More student and faculty work, posts, and resources will be added in the days and weeks ahead.

Prof. Zinder’s presentation included his analysis of the American television series Justified, a complex Western set in the contemporary American south. The paper contends that the series serves as an allegorical response to activities initiated by the Bush Administration following the attacks of September 11, 2001 through its intricate narrative structure, its deconstructive approach to Western archetypes, and its thematic concerns related to American freedom in the wake of a national crisis.

The paper adheres closely to Prof. Zinder’s teaching interests.  He teaches a variety of media studies courses at AUR, including Film Genres and Cult Film and Television.  Prof. Zinder is Chair of the Department of Communication and English at AUR.

Click to view the Communication and English Week 2012 Poster.

From April 2 – 4, 2012, The American University of Rome will present the eighth annual Communication and English Department Week. The events held every year during Comm. Week have proven extremely popular to both students and visitors to campus.

On Monday, April 2, AUR will present the Black Maria Film and Video Festival, an international touring festival of award-winning short narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated films. On Tuesday, April 3, the AUR Student Media and Photography Show will exhibit the best work created over the last year by both full-time and study abroad students in AUR’s Film and Digital Media courses. And on Wednesday, April 4, AUR’s Student Literary Journal Remus: Volume VI will be released. Students published in the journal will read selections from their work, followed by a closing reception.

Communication and English Department Week is free and open to the public, refreshments will be served, and all events begin at 7:00pm in the AUR Auditorium. For inquiries, please email Prof. Paul Zinder at p.zinder@aur.edu.

Still image from Veggie Propaganda (2011)

Professor Kristen Palana’s latest animated short, “Veggie Propaganda” recently received an Award of Merit from the Accolade Film, Television, New Media, and Videography Awards Competition.

“Veggie Propaganda” was also selected as part of the upcoming Animated Shorts Program on April 14th, 2012 at the Southeastern New England Film, Music and Arts Festival (www.senefest.com/) in Providence, RI. and will also be screening as part of the traveling SURGE International Film Festival in Urbana, IL. (April 2012) and Santa Fe, NM. (July 2012) after it initially premiered in Austin, TX. (February 2012). The film also is an official selection of The Vegas Independent Film Festival in Las Vegas, NV. and will be featured as part of their yearlong film series in 2012.

Veggie Propaganda is a quirky, sing-song animation that puts a spotlight on animals, our relationship with them and their rights. This 2D fine-art/digital animation features original music performed by New York City band, The Penultimate. It explores childhood myths about animals vs. the reality of their lives in a human-centered world, where our food really comes from, and how by simply eating less meat individuals can make an astounding positive impact on their health, their finances, and the environment.

To learn more about the film or to request a private online screening, please visit Kristen Palana’s website.

After graduation, Edwina parlayed the film production experience she gained at AUR into positions at Barking Dogs Productions and Paramax Films in Paris, France.

The American University of Rome offers the only Film and Digital Media BA in English in all of Italy. Taught by an award-winning team of film and digital media faculty from the USA, the degree includes courses in: Multimedia, Film Production, Digital Imaging, Film Studies, Animation, Web Design and Screenwriting.

If you are interested in the BA in Film and Digital Media, please contact us using the form at the bottom of the page.

Robot e Pinocchi is a documentary portrait of Ferdinando Codognotto, an Italian sculptor whose philosophical musings about the environmental impact of technology shape his intricate wood pieces.  The film was produced by Davide Alivernini and Prof. Zinder, and Prof. Zinder directed and photographed the piece.

For more information, please visit Prof. Paul Zinder’s website.

Join us for a reading by Ms. Bard:

• Thursday, 9 February 2012
• 6.30 – 7.45
• AUR Auditorium

Alessandra’s novel is the story of Holland Froer, an exuberant and lively 16 years old girl whose tranquil life is shaken by the encounter with an old man whom she believes may be the reincarnation of her lost father, who had died when she was only three. It is a novel on the importance of love, in all its expressions.

This is Alessandra’s second novel. The first, Dal Punto di Vista di Giulia (From Giulia’s Point of View) was published in January this year by De Ferrari publishing. Alessandra is now looking for a publisher for her new book.

The Annual Social Uprising Resistance and Grassroots Encourage (SURGE) Film Festival has upcoming screenings in Austin, TX. in February of 2012 and Los Angeles, CA. in March of 2012 with more cities and dates to be announced.  The Vegas Independent Film Festival is held in Las Vegas, NV. and after its initial kickoff on November 16, 2011, more dates of future screenings throughout the upcoming year will be announced.

Veggie Propaganda is a quirky, sing-song animation that puts a spotlight on animals, our relationship with them and their rights. This 2D fine-art/digital animation features original music performed by New York City band, The Penultimate. It explores childhood myths about animals vs. the reality of their lives in a human-centered world, where our food really comes from and how by simply eating less meat individuals can make an astounding positive impact on their health, their finances and the environment.

Visit Prof. Palana’s website for more information about this film.