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Cinema & Media Studies

Documenting refugees
Six people sitting on a stage during discussion.

A documentary film by Penn junior Sonari Chidi,“Shattering Refuge,” premiered at Penn, followed by a panel discussion at Perry World House on the depiction of refugees and immigrants in the media. From right, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, Michel Gabaudan, Chidi, Sozi Tulante, Fatemeh Shams, and Emma Restrepo. 

Documenting refugees

A documentary film by Penn junior Sonari Chidi and a panel discussion at Perry World House focused on the depiction of refugees and immigrants in the media.

Louisa Shepard

Oscar insights
Meta Mazaj speaking at podium.

Global cinema is the focus of Mazaj’s research.  

Oscar insights

At the Lightbulb Cafe, cinema studies senior lecturer Meta Mazaj speaks about the globalization of cinema and her Oscar picks in anticipation of the 91st Academy Awards.

Louisa Shepard

Risk and healthy behavior in the American adaptation of a telenovela
teenager watcing tv with popcorn on a couch looking surprised

Risk and healthy behavior in the American adaptation of a telenovela

Researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center compare the CW Network show “Jane the Virgin” and the original Spanish-language telenovela “Juana la Virgen” and find an increase in risky adolescent behavior in the adaptation.

Penn Today Staff

Sex and violence were pumped up to “Americanize” Jane the Virgin, study finds

Sex and violence were pumped up to “Americanize” Jane the Virgin, study finds

A new study from the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that “Jane the Virgin,” like many other English-language adaptations of telenovelas, was augmented to feature more sex and violence than the original version in order to appeal to American audiences. These changes “could in turn adversely affect its adolescent Hispanic audiences,” wrote the report’s co-authors, Darien Perez Ryan and Patrick E. Jamieson.

And the Oscar goes to…a Penn sophomore
Student sitting at a table next to a window.

Penn sophomore Claire Sliney is a co-executive producer of one of five films nominated for an Oscar in the Documentary Short Subject category. The 91st Academy Award ceremony is Feb. 24. 

And the Oscar goes to…a Penn sophomore

Claire Sliney is a co-executive producer of one of five films nominated for an Academy Award in the Documentary Short Subject category. “Period. End of Sentence.” explores the stigma of menstruation for girls in India and Sliney’s work to address the issue.

Louisa Shepard , Louisa Shepard

Copyright expiration releases works to the world
Cover of book Vinzi by Johanna Spyri showing child sitting in a windowsill and the title page of the book reading Vinzi a story of the Swiss Alps by Johanna Spyri translation by Elisabeth P. Stork and Illustrations in color by Maria L. Kirk. Philadelphia and London J.B. Lippincott Company 1923.

The Penn Libraries is digitizing and sharing books published in 1923 that have come into the public domain. One is "Vinzi a Story of the Swiss Alps," by Johanna Spyri, author of the more-famous "Heidi." The edition is the first U.S. translation to English from German, published in Philadelphia.  

Copyright expiration releases works to the world

Works from 1923 have entered the public domain after a 20-year extension on copyright protections. The Penn Libraries is digitizing unique works to share.

Louisa Shepard