SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Penn State Schuylkill’s popular community enrichment cinema course will return this fall, offering participants the chance to explore the evolving role of comedy in film.
Titled Media, Manipulation, and the Demise of Public Discourse, the course will examine how humor has changed over time, including the decline of the romantic comedy. Each of the three sessions will feature a pre-screening lecture, a film showing, and a guided discussion analyzing the events depicted, the directors’ choices, and the cinematic techniques used.
Fall 2025 Film Schedule
- Monday, Sept. 29 — "Step Brothers" (Adam McKay, 2008)
Two aimless middle-aged losers, Brennan Huff (Will Ferrell) and Dale Doback (John C. Reilly), still living at home are forced against their will to become roommates when their parents get married. - Monday, Oct. 27 — "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" (Donal Petrie, 2003)
A journalist, Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson), writing an article about repelling men is wooed by an appealing ad man, Ben Berry (Matthew McConaughey), out to prove his own charm. - Monday, Nov. 10 — "Fatherhood" (Paul Weitz, 2021)
An eager expectant father, Matthew Logelin (Kevin Hart), finds his world is torn asunder when his wife inexplicably passes away after giving birth. He must then reconcile his challenging past with his grief if he is to be the father he always dreamed of being. Based on the novel by Matt Logelin.
All classes begin at 6 p.m. in Morgan Auditorium at the Student Community Center. The cost is $30 for community members. Attendance is free for Penn State Schuylkill students, faculty, and staff (details available in the campus newsletter).
The course will be taught by D.J. Higgins, assistant teaching professor of film/video and music at Penn State Schuylkill. Higgins earned a doctorate in modern languages from Middlebury College and is an award-winning filmmaker whose credits include several short films.
For more information or to register, visit sl.psu.edu/cinema.