SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Penn State Schuylkill's popular Community Cinema Course is returning Monday, Jan. 27, offering an engaging exploration of mental health portrayals in film. Titled "Media, Manipulation, and the Demise of Public Discourse," the course invites participants to watch and discuss four carefully selected movies that delve into the complexities of mental health through the lens of cinema.
Each class session will feature a pre-screening lecture, a full showing of the film, and a post-screening discussion. Audience members will analyze the films' content, the directors' approaches to the subject matter, and the cinematic techniques used to tell these compelling stories. The discussions aim to foster a deeper understanding of mental health representation in media and encourage critical thinking.
Classes will take place at 6 p.m. in Morgan Auditorium at Penn State Schuylkill’s Student Community Center. The course is open to community members for a fee of $30, while Penn State Schuylkill students, faculty and staff can attend free of charge.
Spring 2025 Film Schedule
- Monday, Jan. 27 — "A Beautiful Mind" (Ron Howard, 2001)
Winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, this gripping drama tells the story of John Nash (portrayed by Russell Crowe), a brilliant but troubled mathematician who struggles with schizophrenia while making groundbreaking contributions to game theory.
- Monday, Feb. 24 — "Joker" (Todd Phillips, 2019)
An original take on the infamous DC villain, this psychological thriller explores Arthur Fleck’s (portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix) descent into madness while grappling with societal neglect and personal trauma in Gotham City.
- Monday, March 17 — "American Beauty" (Sam Mendes, 1999)
This Oscar-winning satire follows an advertising executive (portrayed by Kevin Spacey) experiencing a midlife crisis, tackling themes of suburban discontent, identity, and emotional turmoil.
- Monday, April 7 — "Gothika" (Mathieu Kassovitz, 2003)
A chilling psychological thriller in which psychiatrist Miranda Grey (portrayed by Halle Berry) finds herself accused of her husband's murder while experiencing haunting visions that may hold the key to the mystery.
Meet the Instructor
D.J. Higgins, assistant teaching professor of film/video and music at Penn State Schuylkill, will lead the course. Higgins holds a doctorate in modern languages from Middlebury College and has directed, written and produced several award-winning short films.
For more information and to register, visit the course link.