For Immediate Release — Monday, October 17, 2005
Contact:
Mary E. McCrank
Media Relations Officer
(585) 245-5516
Film Expert Douglas Brode to Speak at SUNY Geneseo
Oct. 27
GENESEO, N.Y. — Author, film scholar and cultural
critic Douglas Brode will deliver a talk at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, in
203 Newton Hall at the State University of New York at Geneseo. The talk is
free and open to the public.
Brode, who received his bachelor's degree from SUNY Geneseo
in 1965, has written 25 books on the visual and performing arts, with topics
ranging from Disney to Shakespeare to Denzel Washington. He is one of the most
internationally read film historians, ranking alongside Leonard Maltin and Roger
Ebert, with his work translated into many languages. Brode also is an adjunct
professor of cinema studies and film history at Syracuse University's (SU) S.I.
Newhouse School of Public Communications, and coordinator of the Cinema Studies
Program at Onondaga Community College. In addition, he is a theater critic,
actor, and television and radio broadcaster.
"We're proud to count such a distinguished film scholar and
author as one of our alumni. His perspectives on film, Disney and Shakespeare
have everywhere enriched conversations about issues central to our culture,"
said Richard Finkelstein, professor and chair of the English department at SUNY
Geneseo. "We're honored that his visit will bring significant distinction to
our growing film studies minor, launched just three years ago."
This summer, Geneseo presented its Professional Achievement
Award to Brode. He majored in education, English and drama at Geneseo, and
earned an additional bachelor's degree and master's degree from Syracuse
University. He is working on his doctorate in social science at SU's Maxwell
School.
He has written books on actors Dustin Hoffman and Robert De
Niro, directors Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen, and such significant eras as
the 1950s and 1980s. Among the books Brode has authored are: "From Walt to
Woodstock: How Disney Created the Counterculture" (2004), "Sinema: Erotic
Adventures in Film" (2002), "Sweet Prince: The Passion of Hamlet" (2004), "Edge
of Your Seat: The 100 Greatest Movie Thrillers" (2003), "Boys and Toys:
Ultimate Action-Adventure Movies" (2003) and "Money, Women and Guns: Crime
Movies from 'Bonnie and Clyde' to the Present" (1995). His latest book,
"Multiculturalism and the Mouse: Race and Sex in Disney Entertainment," is due
out in 2006.
Brode has lectured at major film festivals, and his comments
are included in many installments of the BRAVO channel's "Profiles" series and
A&E's "Biography." His work and quotes have appeared in "Rolling Stone" and
"TV Guide," major newspapers such as "The New York Times" and "The Washington
Post," and academic journals such as "Cineaste" and "Television Quarterly."
Two of Brode's plays, "Heartbreaker" and "Somewhere in the Night,"
have been professionally produced in regional theatre. His screenplay,
"Midnight Blue," was filmed and hailed by one reviewer as "the best of the
low-budget erotic thrillers."
The talk is sponsored by the English department and
President's Office. For more information, call (585) 245-5273.
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