{"id":6,"date":"2010-08-18T19:55:34","date_gmt":"2010-08-18T19:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/rhetoric\/about\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:58:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:58:15","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/rhetoric-film-screen-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of human communication that focuses on the intersectional nature of meaning and knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Courses offered by the Department of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies teach students to understand how citizens use the symbolic in processes of negotiation within democratic states. Historically, this understanding has come through study of oratory, writing, and debate. But as the public sphere has expanded, so have the skills needed for successful agency: skills also now address visual media such as film, television, and virtual worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Quick Links<\/h2>

Academic Brochure<\/a>
Faculty and Student News
<\/a>Happenings and Events<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

Courses examine the production of meaning in texts and screen texts through the study of the systems that create texts; the form of those texts; and the historical, sociocultural, and economic milieus that mediate their circulation and interpretation. Courses are informed by theories that examine race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class, among other categories. In addition to introductory courses, students are required to take courses in performance. Students take two seminar courses with two different professors to further expand their exploration into the breadth of rhetoric, film, and screen studies. All students complete a senior thesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"This

This year’s Presidential Campaign Rhetoric class had a ball\u2014an inaugural ball, that is.\n\nOn Monday night on the second floor of Commons, “President-elect” Claire Bennett (played by Leah Belber ’26 of Washington, D.C.) officially became “President” Bennett after taking the oath of office administered by Professor of Politics Stephen Engel. Here, she is seen with her loving “husband,” John Bennett (played by George Wan ’25 of Hong Kong), who held a constitutional law textbook during the mock ceremony.\n\nAmong other scenes, swipe left to see Vice President Lawrence “Frank” Green (played by Freddie Curtis ’25 of Harvard, Mass.) take his oath of office alongside his “wife,” Elizabeth Green (played by Claire Bohmer ’25 of Steamboat Springs, Colo.). President Bennett also celebrates with her campaign manager, Katherine Moe \u201925 of Washington, D.C.\n\nWin or lose, members of the Presidential Campaign Rhetoric class and their friends toasted to a job well done with tasty treats and sparkling cider. Taught by Stephanie Kelley-Romano (@profskr), professor of rhetoric, film, and screen studies, the popular rhetoric course is affectionately known by its acronym “PCR.” It offers an intensive and immersive interdisciplinary experience, where mock campaigns run ads, deliver speeches, navigate scandals, and engage with “the media”\u2014also staffed by PCR classmates.\n\nCongratulations to both campaigns and the PCR media coverage from “The Political Times” for another successful and hard fought campaign season.<\/p><\/div>

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\"Yesterday,

Yesterday, two presidential campaigns designed by Bates students faced a scandal, and each team had 90 short minutes in which to respond.\n\nA blessedly mock campaign, it\u2019s a component of \u201cPresidential Campaign Rhetoric,\u201d which Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies Stephanie Kelley-Romano has taught every couple of years since the early 2000s.\n\nThis year, Kelley-Romano asked each campaign to prepare two responses. \u201cOne where they have to address (minimize and justify) what went on and a second where they can totally deny it. At the end of the class period I will have another story for each campaign that shows the accusations were false and they are absolutely vindicated (these stories can then run in our fake newspaper without the danger of damaging the candidate images or campaigns). During the class there will also be other information that “breaks” that they will have to respond to\n\nThe course is a senior seminar, and part of its coursework is traditional. Students do readings and have discussions, getting a handle on the many rhetorical devices that presidential campaigns deploy in speeches, ads, debates, and social media, as well how the news media interprets all this political discourse.\n\nSimultaneously, the students get to practice and hone their rhetorical skills during the mock campaign. Everyone in the class has a role, from doing social media and speechwriting to playing family members and news reporters.\n\nFor the first time, this year\u2019s two campaigns will not be affiliated with either of the two major U.S. parties (nor with any other party, whether Greens, Libertarians, or even Whigs).\n\nGetting rid of the labels, Kelley-Romano hopes, will make \u201cvoters,\u201d the nearly 600 students who are in various courses that intersect with the campaign, \u201cthink twice about what they\u2019re hearing.\u201d While an overall goal of the mock campaign is to increase the quality of public discourse, it\u2019s up to each campaign to \u201cbalance responsible discour<\/p><\/div>

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\"Yesterday,

Yesterday, two presidential campaigns designed by Bates students faced a scandal, and each team had 90 short minutes in which to respond.\n\nA blessedly mock campaign, it\u2019s a component of \u201cPresidential Campaign Rhetoric,\u201d which Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies Stephanie Kelley-Romano has taught every couple of years since the early 2000s.\n\nThis year, Kelley-Romano asked each campaign to prepare two responses. \u201cOne where they have to address (minimize and justify) what went on and a second where they can totally deny it. At the end of the class period I will have another story for each campaign that shows the accusations were false and they are absolutely vindicated (these stories can then run in our fake newspaper without the danger of damaging the candidate images or campaigns). During the class there will also be other information that “breaks” that they will have to respond to\n\nThe course is a senior seminar, and part of its coursework is traditional. Students do readings and have discussions, getting a handle on the many rhetorical devices that presidential campaigns deploy in speeches, ads, debates, and social media, as well how the news media interprets all this political discourse.\n\nSimultaneously, the students get to practice and hone their rhetorical skills during the mock campaign. Everyone in the class has a role, from doing social media and speechwriting to playing family members and news reporters.\n\nFor the first time, this year\u2019s two campaigns will not be affiliated with either of the two major U.S. parties (nor with any other party, whether Greens, Libertarians, or even Whigs).\n\nGetting rid of the labels, Kelley-Romano hopes, will make \u201cvoters,\u201d the nearly 600 students who are in various courses that intersect with the campaign, \u201cthink twice about what they\u2019re hearing.\u201d While an overall goal of the mock campaign is to increase the quality of public discourse, it\u2019s up to each campaign to \u201cbalance responsible discour<\/p><\/div>

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\"Yesterday,

Yesterday, two presidential campaigns designed by Bates students faced a scandal, and each team had 90 short minutes in which to respond.\n\nA blessedly mock campaign, it\u2019s a component of \u201cPresidential Campaign Rhetoric,\u201d which Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies Stephanie Kelley-Romano has taught every couple of years since the early 2000s.\n\nThis year, Kelley-Romano asked each campaign to prepare two responses. \u201cOne where they have to address (minimize and justify) what went on and a second where they can totally deny it. At the end of the class period I will have another story for each campaign that shows the accusations were false and they are absolutely vindicated (these stories can then run in our fake newspaper without the danger of damaging the candidate images or campaigns). During the class there will also be other information that “breaks” that they will have to respond to\n\nThe course is a senior seminar, and part of its coursework is traditional. Students do readings and have discussions, getting a handle on the many rhetorical devices that presidential campaigns deploy in speeches, ads, debates, and social media, as well how the news media interprets all this political discourse.\n\nSimultaneously, the students get to practice and hone their rhetorical skills during the mock campaign. Everyone in the class has a role, from doing social media and speechwriting to playing family members and news reporters.\n\nFor the first time, this year\u2019s two campaigns will not be affiliated with either of the two major U.S. parties (nor with any other party, whether Greens, Libertarians, or even Whigs).\n\nGetting rid of the labels, Kelley-Romano hopes, will make \u201cvoters,\u201d the nearly 600 students who are in various courses that intersect with the campaign, \u201cthink twice about what they\u2019re hearing.\u201d While an overall goal of the mock campaign is to increase the quality of public discourse, it\u2019s up to each campaign to \u201cbalance responsible discour<\/p><\/div>

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\"Opening

Opening night of the Bates Film Festival in Olin 104 with a screening of \u201cThe Worst Person in the World.\u201d\n\nLights on the way back from Olin to Lane Hall.<\/p><\/div>

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\"Bates

Bates Film Festival at the Nordica Theatre in Freeport Maine on Saturday, April 2,2022. \n\nInside theater for screening of \u201cMemoria.\u201d<\/p><\/div>

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\"Bates

Bates Film Festival guests John Turturro and John Shea \u201972 participate in two back to back Q&As in Schaeffer Theater. Turturro was from 2:30-4 p.m. Shea was from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Faculty members Jon Cavallero, Katalin Vecsey and Tim Dugan joined students from the Cavallero\u2019s festival class to pose questions to the two actor\/director\/writers.<\/p><\/div>

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\"Winter

Winter 2025 Thesis Students at their thesis turn-in celebration!<\/p><\/div>

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Argumentation and debate are traditional aspects of the practice and study of rhetoric, and have long been considered essential elements to a functioning public sphere. Bates has a storied tradition of excellence in debate, and students may study argumentation in courses or participate in competitive debate, or both. The Brooks Quimby Debate Council (BQDC), teaches students basic elements of rhetorical practice and theory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The official Instagram account for Bates College Department of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies
\nBates Film Festival: @batesfilmfestival<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWith the semester coming to a close, Short Term is<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"With\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tJoin us today to celebrate the Winter 2026 Thesis <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Join\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tToday, the RFSS department will be hosting two pan<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Today,\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83c\udf89 HUGE Congratulations are in store for Professor <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\ud83c\udf89\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWondering how RFSS students spend their semesters <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Wondering\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFall 2026 course registration is officially open \ud83d\udce3<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Fall\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThis Thursday – 7:30 pm – Muskie Archives \ud83d\udce3 In cel<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"This\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTHIS THURSDAY, February 11th, at 4:30pm in the Fil<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"THIS\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tExciting week for the RFSS Department \ud83d\udcd6 Alexis Gon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Exciting\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tCongratulations to all of the RFSS students who tu<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Congratulations\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83c\udf89Thesis Turn-In Party\ud83c\udf89 This Wednesday, 12 – 1pm, c<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\ud83c\udf89Thesis\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tAdvising Extravaganza – Monday, November 3rd at no<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Advising\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\ud83d\udce3 Announcing the Rhetoric Film and Screen Studies <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\ud83d\udce3\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRFSS Majors! Join us next week to start planning f<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"RFSS\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tOne week into Fall 2025 and having a blast! \n\nShow<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"One\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tNew faculty alert — we are delighted to welcome L<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"New\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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