Penn State Schuylkill will once again host its popular community enrichment cinema course this spring, inviting participants to take a deeper look at how comedy has evolved in film and what those changes say about modern culture and public discourse.
The four-part course, titled Media, Manipulation, and the Demise of Public Discourse, will explore humor’s shifting role in cinema, including the decline of the traditional romantic comedy. Each session will feature a pre-screening lecture, a full film showing, and a guided discussion examining the film’s themes, directorial choices, and cinematic techniques.
Spring 2026 Film Schedule
Monday, Jan. 26 — When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Harry Burns and Sally Albright meet during a post-college road trip from Chicago to New York. As they build their lives in Manhattan, their friendship repeatedly intersects with romance, heartbreak, and the lingering question of whether men and women can truly be “just friends.”Monday, Feb. 23 — Coming to America (1988)
A wealthy African prince rebels against an arranged marriage and travels to Queens, New York, disguising himself as an average man while searching for genuine love.Monday, Mar. 23 — A League of Their Own (1992)
Set during World War II, the film follows the formation of the first women’s professional baseball league, focusing on sibling rivalry, teamwork, and perseverance under the guidance of a reluctant former Major League manager.Monday, Apr. 20 — Major League (1989)
A ragtag group of players attempts to pull the Cleveland Indians out of a decades-long slump in this classic sports comedy.
All classes begin at 6 p.m. and will be held in Morgan Auditorium at the Student Community Center on campus. The cost is $30 for community members, while attendance is free for Penn State Schuylkill students, faculty, and staff (additional details are 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 holds a doctorate in modern languages from Middlebury College and is an award-winning filmmaker with credits that include several short films.
For more information or to register, visit sl.psu.edu/cinema.