Penn State Schuylkill cinema course that's open to public will focus on boxing, stereotypes

Sep. 17—SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — As a child, David J. Higgins became inspired to make movies after watching the classic 1976 film "Rocky."

Now an active filmmaker, Higgins remembers being captivated by the movie's unusual themes and storytelling as much as by its cinematic techniques.

"The last line of 'Rocky' is, 'I love you,' " said Higgins, an assistant teaching professor of film/video and music at Penn State Schuylkill. "I often ask my students, 'Is this truly a boxing film?' He doesn't win the fight. We have this story about perseverance and love, but at the same time, it's unorthodox and it's brave because you're telling the story of a boxer who doesn't win."

Given its relevance, as well as its influence on his development as a filmmaker, Higgins has decided to screen "Rocky" as the first part of a noncredit film course he is teaching this semester.

Now in its third iteration, the class, "Confronting Cinematic Stereotypes: Struggle, Redemption and Second Chances in Modern Film," is set to kick off Sept. 27 at the Student Community Center's John E. Morgan Auditorium.

As in previous semesters, the course will be open to all members of the public. Participants are encouraged to engage in discussion following the film screenings, which Higgins said is a big part of the class experience.

The cost for the course is $30 for community members, while Penn State Schuylkill students, faculty and staff members can participate for free.

To register, visit schuylkill.psu.edu/cinemacourse.

Each class session will begin at 6 p.m. with a pre-screening lecture, followed by the movie and a classwide discussion moderated by Higgins.

The first film, "Rocky," will be followed by screenings of "The Fighter" and "Crazy Rich Asians."

"We're sticking to the theme of confronting cinematic stereotypes," Higgins said. "Each film is going to examine certain taboos. ... Where are the stereotypes in each of these films? That's an important question."

Higgins said that, among other topics, the class will discuss how the films challenge the "status quo," which he believes is an important part of a filmmaker's role.

"We're going to analyze how each director, actor, producer, how each person has come together to challenge what society is deeming to be correct," he said. "And this is how I see one of the most important roles of an artist."

In the case of "The Fighter" — an award-winning drama starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale — heavy themes, such as substance abuse, are tackled through the lens of boxing.

"I want to draw the cross-parallels between 'Rocky' and 'The Fighter,' " Higgins said, "and address stereotypes that perhaps are associated in this film with addiction, which is a theme that the media tends to avoid."

As the finale to the course, Higgins will screen a film that wasn't as acclaimed as the others — "Crazy Rich Asians," a 2018 comedy-drama directed by Jon M. Chu.

That film, which follows a Chinese American woman and her boyfriend on their travels to his best friend's wedding, is a reflection on "the immigrant experience through a class-based lens," Higgins said.

Although the movie was a box office hit, he said, it was received harshly by some critics, partly due to its depiction of stereotypes.

As part of his film course, Higgins wants to stress the importance of watching movies that "we as an audience" no longer enjoy or deem important.

"There's a generation of spectators who are not viewing films that they do not like, and I think that's very dangerous," he said. "I think that's correlated with why we no longer have conversations. If every time you don't like a film, you can turn it off, what are you doing when you are engaging in an argument that challenges you?"

Originally from Connecticut, Higgins has written, directed and produced several films, including a short called "Loved" that was released in April.

"Confronting Cinematic Stereotypes" launched last September with a screening of the 1970 historical drama "The Molly Maguires." The course has received positive feedback from students and community members and has helped foster appreciation of the film medium, Higgins said.

"There truly has been debate after the film screenings, which was the impetus," he said.

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085