Social Issues in Film Series Kicks Off Jan. 26, Runs Through April 27

VALDOSTA- Valdosta State University’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice will kick off its fourth annual Social Issues in Film Series on Monday, Jan. 26, with Schooled: The Price of College Sports. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in University Center Room 1161.

According to a synopsis of the movie, Schooled: The Price of College Sports “is a comprehensive look at the business, history, and culture of college sports in America and how it became a billion dollar industry built on the backs of athletes who are deprived of numerous rights.”

The Social Issues in Film Series will continue throughout the spring semester with:

• Feb. 9, Very Young Girls

Synopsis: “Very Young Girls is an exposé of human trafficking that follows 13- and 14-year-old American girls as they are seduced, abused, and sold on New York's streets by pimps, and treated as adult criminals by police.”

• Feb. 23, Tar Creek

Synopsis: “Once one of the largest lead and zinc mines on the planet, Tar Creek is now home to more than 40 square miles of environmental devastation in northeastern Oklahoma — acid mine water in the creeks, stratospheric lead poisoning in the children, and sinkholes that melt backyards and ball fields.”

• March 9, Fed Up

Synopsis: “Everything we’ve been told about food and exercise for the past 30 years is dead wrong. Fed Up is the film the food industry doesn’t want you to see. From Katie Couric, Laurie David, Oscar-winning producer of An Inconvenient Truth, and director Stephanie Soechtig, Fed Up will change the way you eat forever.”

• March 30, Gideon’s Army

Synopsis: “Gideon’s Army follows the personal stories of Travis Williams, Brandy Alexander, and June Hardwick, three young public defenders who are part of a small group of idealistic lawyers in the Deep South challenging the assumptions that drive a criminal justice system strained to the breaking point.”

• April 13, Beyond the Myth: The Truth About Pit Bulls

Synopsis: “The documentary intelligently explores the contributing factors behind the public’s generalized fear of pit bulls and examines the conflict existing between advocates and opponents of breed discriminatory laws, commonly referred to as breed bans.”

• April 27, Red Blooded Men

Synopsis: “Red Blooded Men is a documentary that covers multiple aspects of college life through a male's perspective. Through various interviews, spanning from Northern Illinois University to University of Iowa, and other schools across the country, we aim to enlighten audiences about masculinity/femininity and create awareness about the increasing trend of sexual assault throughout campuses across America.”

• April 27, In Motion

Synopsis: “After a sexual assault, a college-aged woman is faced with difficult decisions regarding her health and her future. This short narrative film engages with the question of consent and the quick response of friends who, perhaps unintentionally, blame the victim.”

Each presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in University Center Room 1161. A discussion will be held after each film.

“Our goal is to engage students outside classroom time and to provide a venue in the larger community for thoughtful analyses of social issues,” said Dr. Thomas Hochschild, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, said.

Contact Dr. Thomas Hochschild at (229) 333-5483 or trhochschild@valdosta.edu for more information.

On the Web:

https://www.facebook.com/ValdostaStateUniversitySocialIssuesInFilmSeries

Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities. 

Special programs like the Social Issues in Film Series help the university meet the following goals: 

Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate a quality, diverse student population and prepare students for roles as leaders in a global society.

Goal 3: Promote student, employee, alumni, retiree, and community engagement in our mission.

Goal 4: Foster an environment of creativity and scholarship.

Goal 5: Develop and enhance Valdosta State’s human and physical resources.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/planning/strategic-plan.php to learn more.