Scholarship
Years of teaching, research, and public scholarship continue to shape every Chicago Movie Tours & Talks experience
Although my work today focuses on Chicago Movie Tours & Talks, these publications, presentations, and courses reflect the scholarly foundation that continues to inform my research, tours, and public programs.
Publications
Explore my curated collection of peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and media research spanning classical Hollywood, television studies, and film adaptation.
Presentations
Browse notable speaking engagements, cinema society panels, keynote addresses, and academic presentations delivered at conferences, universities, and other venues.
Courses
Before founding Chicago Movie Tours & Talks, I spent 15 years teaching university courses in film, television, literature, and popular culture. These courses reflect the scholarly foundation that continues to inform my tours, talks, and public programs today.
Courses That Shaped My Talks
Many of my current talks began as university courses, later adapted for libraries, museums, lifelong learning programs, and community audiences. While redesigned for public audiences, they remain grounded in the same research, historical context, and multimedia approach that shaped my teaching.
University Courses
Public Programs
American Film Comedy • Sitcom, Satire, and Sketch Comedy • Stand-Up Comedy Documented
Students explored the history of American film comedy through influential films, examining the genre's conventions; cultural significance; and the ways comedy reflects gender, class, race, and society.
Comedy & Culture Series
Reimagined for public audiences, these multimedia presentations explore American comedy through iconic films, memorable performers, and the ways humor reflects history, culture, and everyday life.
Current programs:
University Course
Public Program
Cinema History
Students traced the evolution of American cinema from the silent era through the rise of the studio system and beyond, examining landmark films, industry developments, and Hollywood's cultural impact.
Hollywood History Series
Using past university lectures, these multimedia presentations explore Hollywood’s history and cultural impact through cinematic movements, influential performers, and the ways film reflects changing ideas about race, gender, identity, and society..
Current programs:
University Course
Public Programs
Introduction to Film
Students learned the fundamentals of film analysis, exploring cinematic techniques, storytelling, genre, and critical approaches while developing the skills to interpret and evaluate movies.
Film Appreciation Series
Expanded into a series of public programs, these multimedia talks introduce audiences to the language of film—from makeup and cinematography to editing and sound—helping viewers experience movies with new insight.
Current programs:
University Course
Public Programs
Seinfeld
Students examined Seinfeld as both a groundbreaking sitcom and a cultural phenomenon, exploring its production, historical context, critical reception, and lasting influence on American television.
Seinfeld Series
Expanded into a series of public programs, these multimedia presentations explore Seinfeld's enduring cultural legacy, from the origins of Festivus to the sitcom's unforgettable use of food as comedy, character, and social commentary.
Current programs:
University Course
Public Program
Gene Kelly and the Art of Cine-dance
Created for Facets Film School (Chicago), this course examined how Gene Kelly transformed the Hollywood musical by integrating choreography, camerawork, editing, and special effects into the cinematic art of "cine-dance."
Gene Kelly Series
Adapted for general audiences, these multimedia presentations explore Gene Kelly's career, creative innovations, and lasting influence on the Hollywood musical through film history, rare archival materials, and original research.
Current programs:
University Course
Public Program
Film Noir
Students explored the history of film noir and neo-noir, analyzing its style, recurring themes, character types, and cultural significance through classic and contemporary films.
Film Noir: Hollywood's Darkest Timeline
Inspired by this university course, this multimedia presentation traces the origins and evolution of film noir, exploring its shadowy aesthetics, unforgettable characters, and lasting influence on American cinema, Chicago included. → Book This Program