Episode 4: Prof. Morrison from Literature Department
To conclude the fall-semester segment of our project, the Gould Center’s “Focus on Faculty” project team interviewed CMC Professor of Literature and Film Studies James Morrison. Professor Morrison is the current Administrative Director of Film Studies and Media at CMC and teaches various film-related courses, including “Film and Mass Culture” and “Film Theory.” Through conversations about a plethora of topics, ranging from the intersection of literature and film to the role of Marvel movies in cultural understanding, the “Focus on Faculty” project team hopes to provide CMC students not only with insights into Professor Morrison’s passion for literature and film studies, but also with some very interesting food for thought.
Our interview with Professor Morrison began with a conversation about his personal connection to both literature and film studies and his belief that the two fields are deeply intertwined. Professor Morrison expressed that since he was a child, he has understood that literature and film studies are “embedded in the same culture” and thus always watched the movie-versions of books. He referenced James Joyce and Virginia Woolfe, two prominent authors in the wave of modernist literature, to demonstrate that much of literature–historical and contemporary–are actually influenced by cinematic techniques. This is a very interesting point in that the intersection between the two fields is not only observable in books that are turned into movies (and vice versa); the influences of the fields on another can be extended beyond particular pieces.
The interview continued with an interesting discussion about cultural analysis, which Professor Morrison stated is very important as it enables us to explore “various points of calculus” in the fields of literature and film studies. Professor Morrison excitedly described his experience teaching his students about Philadelphia, one of the first Hollywood films to bring light to the issue of AIDS. He stated that because the film pushes against the popular texts of its time, it provided him and his students with an opportunity to explore such texts on a deeper level—a level that contributed to unique insights into homophobia and marginalization.
Professor Morrison extended our conversation about cultural analysis by emphasizing its role in the public sphere. He beautifully stated that “cultural knowledge [gained through the analysis of literature and film] serves as a means of untangling truth and untruth.” I believe that Professor Morrison means that cultural analysis can shift us away from homogeneity, or an objective truth, and towards heterogeneity, which is especially important in our multilayered, diverse society.
Our interview with Professor Morrison concluded with an entertaining exchange of thoughts about popular films and film-series, starting with Marvel movies. Martin Scorses, an American film producer well known for his production of The Wolf of Wall Street, recently criticized Marvel movies for not conveying emotional experiences to their audiences and claimed that they should not be classified as “cinema.” Professor Morrison agreed with Scorsese on the grounds that Scorsese clearly distinguished “cinema” from “movies” in his controversial opinion; however, Professor Morrison also stated that Marvel movies have the potential to “serve as an outlet of cultural analysis,” pointing to Wonder Woman as a great attempt to move away from masculine dominance.
Professor Morrison also provided great insights into The Bee Movie, which he claimed is not only a narrative that highlights the endangered nature of the bee species, but also an “against the grain” model that can be observed in the low-budget movies of the early twentieth century. According to Professor Morrison, “even the dumbest movie in the world can yield really fascinating insights into the culture that produced it.” If you would like to hear more about Professor Morrison’s analysis of other popular films, including the recently released Everything Everywhere All At Once, be sure to check out the entire recorded interview and attend our faculty chat!
The “Focus on Faculty” team would like to thank Professor Morrison for the opportunity to learn more about him and about the ways in literature and film studies can shape our perceptions of society. We would also like to thank you for joining us on this amazing journey of bringing greater attention to humanistic studies and inquiry at CMC. We look forward to continuing this journey next semester!