Media, Manipulation, and the Demise of Public Discourse
Our community enrichment cinema course continues in spring 2026. Participants will watch and discuss three movies exploring the portrayal of comedy in cinema. Our public course will examine how humor has changed over time, including the decline of the romantic comedy.
Each class session will include a pre-screening lecture followed by a showing of the film. Afterward, audience members will engage in conversation about the content events featured, the ways directors presented the subjects, and cinematic techniques used that may answer some questions while raising others.
Each class begins at 6:00 p.m. in Morgan Auditorium at Penn State Schuylkill’s Student Community Center.
Cost: $30 for community members
Free for Penn State Schuylkill students, faculty and staff members (see campus newsletter for details)
Film Schedule
Monday, January 26, 2026
When Harry Met Sally
(Rob Reiner, 1989)
Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) meet when they share a car ride from Chicago to New York right after graduating from college. As they each build their lives and careers in Manhattan, they experience love and heartbreak—with other people—yet their paths continue to cross. Over the years, their friendship deepens until they must confront the question of whether to let it develop into romance.
Monday, February 23, 2026
Coming to America
(John Landis, 1988)
A wealthy African prince (Eddie Murphy) rebels against an arranged marriage and travels to Queens, New York. Once he arrives, he disguises himself as an average man in hopes of finding a genuine, independent American woman who will love him for who he is.
Monday, March 23, 2026
A League of Their Own
(Penny Marshall, 1992)
Set during World War II, this film explores the creation of the first women’s professional baseball league. The story focuses on two sisters—one a talented, sweet-swinging catcher (Geena Davis) and the other a pouty, impulsive pitcher (Lori Petty)—who play on the same team. Their rivalry intensifies under the leadership of their manager, a washed-up, hard-drinking former Major Leaguer (Tom Hanks).
Monday, April 20, 2026
Major League
(David S. Ward, 1989)
A group of misfit players attempts to lift the Cleveland Indians out of a 34-year slump.
Meet the instructor
This course is taught by Dr. D.J. Higgins, assistant teaching professor of film/video and music at Penn State Schuylkill. Dr. Higgins earned the Doctor of Philosophy in Modern Languages from Middlebury College and is an active filmmaker, having directed, written, and produced several award-winning short films.
For more community events at Penn State Schuylkill, check out the programming at Art Space.
