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The mission and vision of this program
involves producing excellent performance communicators, who will
contribute
positively and constructively as Christian
professionals in their visceral and virtual worlds, regionally
to internationally.
This leading program involves an
interdisciplinary, cutting-edge, practical approach to preparing
marketable students for performance and technical work in a wide
range of communication arenas: Internet, Radio,
Television, Film, Platform, and Stage. Our program and courses
approach Performance Studies as
communication art within
complex, multi-cultural,
contexts of communication performance.
Not only are
our Performance Studies courses scholarly and
research-based, but they have been practical in
successfully
preparing students for substantive work in a broad
range of communication fields.
See
http://www.dianehoward.com/alumni.htm.
The UMHB Performance Studies Major is a broad-based
communication major made up of studies in the
following areas:
communication, media, performance, and literature. In
this major, performance communication
in its multiple forms
throughout history and currently around the world is studied
basically as communication art.
As such it takes into
account
various contexts that involve different performance
communication styles and audiences.
The UMHB Performance Studies Major requires 33 semester hours consisting
of the following courses:
(These courses are also open to any UMHB students as electives.)
COMM 1340 (Intro. to Speech Performance)-
offered each semester
COMM 2340 (Storytelling)- fall semester
COMM 3380 (Voice and Diction) -offered each
semester
COMM 4370 (Distance
Communication and Performance)- offered each semester
THEA 2350 (Intro. to Theatre) - fall semester
THEA 3310 (Acting)- fall semester
THEA 4300 (Directing)- spring semester
ENGL 4321 (Shakespeare)- fall semester
ENGL 4340 (Literary Theory and Criticism) - fall semester
COMM 3350 (Modern Forensics)- fall semester
COMM 3390 (Film Studies)- fall semester
Performance Studies Electives include the following:
COMM 3340 (Screenwriting) -
fall semester
COMM 4391 (Acting for the Camera)-
spring semester
COMM 4191-4491 (Seminars [May be repeated for credit with approval of Course
Instructor])
COMM 4190-4490 (Independent
Studies [May be repeated for credit with approval of Course Instructor])
COMM 4395 (Internships
[May be repeated for credit with approval of Course Instructor])
Performance Studies is a scholarly, interdisciplinary discipline. This
interdisciplinary Performance Studies field
(which is more about theories of
performance practice) is different from theater and performing arts
(which
are more about applied performance skills).
It is also different from the
study of performance literature,
because it involves the study of
performance practices of everyday life in cultures and societies across the
globe
and throughout history. Performance Studies incorporates the critical
and analytical study of a broad spectrum
of performance theories and
practices that includes the following: theatre, spectacle, and multi-media.
This truly
interdisciplinary program also incorporates the study of
traditional rites, rituals, conventions, and events,
which are studied in
other academic disciplines such as Christian studies, religion, cultural
studies, fine arts
and communication.
The UMHB Performance Studies Program is based on a Christian world-view. It
takes a broad-spectrum
approach
to the study of performance as communication
art. It provides studies of performance communication
that take a
critical
look at interpretive, analytic, compositional, and design principles across
communication and performing arts
disciplines. This interdisciplinary and
dynamic major is broad, deep, and multi-cultural. This
program serves the
Christian
world-view well in its multi-cultural, global, and historical
scope, depth, and breath.
It effectively equips Christian students
for
viable, cutting-edge, contemporary work and ministry around the
world. It
provides knowledge and skills in
inter-cultural communication and ministry.
The UMHB Cru
Film
Program is in its eighth year.
Dr. Diane Howard (Director of Performance Studies in the
Dept of
Communication and
Media Studies in the College of Humanities) and Professor Donna Teel
(Director
of
Computer
Graphics Design in the Dept. of Business Information Technology
and Systems in the College of
Business) have designed, produced, and
supervised these programs.
UMHB students,
alumni, and faculty, some with professional agents, continue to be cast in
feature movies, commercials, and training films. See involvement in movies such as the
HBO
Temple Grandin film.
(Temple Grandin received many
Emmy awards as the best made-for-television
movie. )
See the
resumes of
our students, alumni, and faculty. For six years, screenplays for short films have
been
written in
the fall and selected for production in the spring. UMHB students
have also participated in
producing short films
through the national 48 Hour Project.
Cru Films and others in which UMHB personnel
have participated have
included
award-winning films.
Original Cru Film Productions-
Fairytail & Map Thieves,
'05
Original Cru Film Productions- Bullets at Twilight & Dumb Love, '06
48 Hour Project, Big Plume Productions, Hidden Places, Summer '06
Original Cru Film Productions, Fly Away,
Split Ends, '07
Original Cru Film Productions, Runaway, The Good Wife, '08
Original Cru Film
Production- Redemptive Films, '09
Original Film Production, The Last Waltz, '10
Original Film Production, Choice Decision, '11
UMHB Performance Studies, Film, and
Computer Graphics Design (CGD) Students
have been producing
original
short films and Public Service Commercials on
campus. They have worked together with area
businesses and
organizations to
produce training videos. Performance Studies students have provided
on-camera and voice-over
talent for UMHB commercials and other projects.
As well as producing two original film shorts with Performance Studies
Students, CGD students have been
filming
events at UMHB. They have been
producing DVDs documentaries, films of and for UMHB Events,
and Health
PSA's (using, for example, scripts written by David Koontz, a UMHB,
Performance Studies, Screenwriting Student).
Films of special events have included special national speakers, such as
Former
President George H. B. Bush Sr.
and
Mrs. Barbara Bush on separate
occasions. Students in the Multimedia
and Film Production Course study project management of filming. (They study this in each of the Digital Video
Editing and Post Production course but get more
in depth in the MFP
course.) Further, they study camera
operation, lighting, sound, script
breakdown, shot sheets...
Two
original Cru screenplays have been produced in Spring '08, especially
for military chaplains serving
deployed
soldiers and
their
families. They are
Runaway by Steve Nelson
and The Good Wife by
Jillian Stook.
These films
have
been made for public screenings
and for use by UMHB
graduate
counseling faculty, who
teach
marriage and family
counseling courses,
especially for
U.S. military
chaplains who are being trained in
graduate work at UMHB
in this field.
Once the chaplains have
completed master’s
degrees in
marriage and
family therapy, they have trained
other chaplains
on
military posts
around the world to enable them to better
serve
military families,
especially those stressed by multiple
deployments to war zones.
Dr. David Howard
director for
the Graduate
Marriage and Family Counseling Program
at UMHB, has served as a
consultant to
UMHB
student screenwriters.
Dr.
Diane Howard is the film advisor and program director in the Communication and Media Studies Dept.
in
the
College of Humanities. Ms. Teel is the film advisor and program
director in
Computer Graphics Design
in the
Dept. of Business Information Technology and Systems in the
College of Business. The Film Minor is
listed under
Business Information Technology
and Systems (BITS) and Performance Studies. The UMHB Film Minor consists of 18 semester hours and
must include the following requisites:
BCIS 3335 (Digital Video)
BCIS 4335 (Post Production)
COMM 3340 (Screenwriting)
COMM 3390 (Film Studies)
Further it includes two electives from the following:
BCIS 3370 (3D Modeling)
BCIS 3391 (Animation, Film and Multimedia Production)
BCIS 4370 (Applied Systems Development )
BCIS 4395 (Internship)
COMM 4391 (Acting for the Camera)
COMM 4370 (Distance
Communication and Performance )
COMM 4391 (Cinematography)
COMM 4191-4491 (Seminars)
COMM 4190-4490 (Independent Studies)
COMM 4395 (Internships
)
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Dr.
Howard's Performance Studies Textbooks and Publications
Performance Studies courses involve inquiry, research, and
investigation into how performance communication
on
stage and
off facilitates understanding of human action and interaction.
They incorporate learning that is
student-centered,
constructivist, problem-solving, critical in thinking, inductive
in approach, empathetic, active,
and authentic. They,
therefore, engender in students a love for learning and an
independent joy of discovery. They cultivate excitement and
anticipation in investigation and inquiry. Real-world,
practical, resume-building projects are produced in each course.
The UMHB Performance Studies Major has at its heart
student-centered, experiential, practical, project-based
learning
with technology integration. At a time when best
practice teaching
and learning strategies are marked by these
elements
in the most effective, contemporary educational
settings,
the
trademarks of this major make it especially relevant and
on
the cutting-edge.
The UMHB Performance Studies Division is involved with a
network of regional, state, national, and
international,
on-site
and distance, communication and performing arts organizations,
networks, and facilities. Performance Studies
students have
served as performers, presenters, and as project designers for Apple Learning
Interchange; BellNet
(see
peer-mentoring/substance abuse reduction project);
U.S.
Army Equal Opportunity offices;
Austin Singers; Austin,
Texas Nafas
Poetry Television Channel;
Temple Independent School
District; the
Cultural Activities Center of Temple,
TX .... Performance
Studies
students and alumni are actively involved with cutting-edge, performance, industry
professionals in fields
of
theater, film, television, radio, and performance via e-technologies. From 2003 to the present,
UMHB Performance Studies students and graduates
have been
trained and employed by Walt Disney World.
Performance Studies Alumni
are communication, marketing, advertising, pr
specialists/talent; camp, youth,
drama,
music, ministry
staff/talent; instructors, directors, producers, performers;
audio-visual/media, radio/tv broadcasting, film staff/talent...
Performance Studies students may perform in
main stage productions
on or off campus. UMHB Performance
Studies
majors perform via
film, stages, radio,
television, professional videos, educational or
therapeutic
simulations,
videoconferencing,
videostreaming,
Web casting, and pr/commercial projects. They are able to adjust
their performances
for various contexts that include different
audiences, technologies, and purposes. Each Performance Studies student writes,
performs, and produces a solo
production of a fascinating, historical figure. These pieces
are performed on-site and/or via distance technologies. UMHB
Performance Studies students are
writing screenplays and producing
CRU films
with
Dr. Howard and in collaboration with the Computer Graphics
and Design program at UMHB led by Professor Donna Teel. They
are involved in creating and designing
distance communication
projects, which are serving the globe. Further,
Performance
Studies students are
involved in performance
research.
Students majoring in Performance Studies also have
opportunities to
intern regionally
with television or radio stations,
pr/media offices, or with
performance communication organizations. They are paid interns
for the
Disney
Corp in their
College Program. They have interned in L.A. in
film production and NYC in stage
production. Performance Studies
students and alumni have talent agents and
have performed in
professional commercials and films. They have served as
paid
talent for businesses and organizations such as the
McLane company,
Scott and White Hospital,
Texas Dept. of
Transportation, and
Equal
Opportunity military
departments. They have worked on
industrial, health, and educational
projects with companies,
social services
and educational institututions such the Temple,
TX, Police Dept.; Personnel
Decisions International (PDI)
companies; regional school districts; and BellNet (TX
educational videoconferencing system).
Performance Studies students and alumni are professionally
involved with Dr. Howard in writing for
professional publications
and in presenting at professional conferences. Dr. Howard, who
directs the UMHB Performance Studies
Program, is actively
involved with national and international cutting-edge leaders in
Performance Studies work. She and her students have
participated in local, state, national, and international
communication and performance studies conferences. Performance
Studies students and alumni have
participated, presented, performed, and published in the international,
scholarly
NAAAS organization
( National Association of
African American Studies, National Association of Hispanic
and
Latino Studies, National Association of Native American
Studies, International Association of Asian Studies).
They
have
had the privilege of hosting
Dr. Rod
Paige, recent national education secretary at a NAAAS
conference.
(See vitae,
resume,
presentations and
publications.)
Goals for personnel involved in this program include
facilitating the development of artistic scholars,
researchers,
instructors, designers, presenters, and directors, who are
highly marketable with a wide range of instructing, performing,
communicating, directing, and producing skills. Content goals
include producing projects that are edifying and enlightening
(as well as
entertaining). The desire is to produce art that is
uplifting, inspirational
positive, and redemptive (as well as
educational).
(See
what UMHB Performance Studies Students are doing
with their
degrees.)
The Performance Studies program at UMHB provides training in
classes and workshops for theater, film, radio, television,
and
distance communication technologies. Performance Studies
students are taught how to prepare
for different kinds of
auditions; how to adjust performance styles for commercials,
film, stage, and distance
technologies; and how to market and
manage performance professions. Performance Studies students,
alumni,
and faculty are represented by various talent
agencies
and regularly participate in auditions and interviews for
work
in radio; television; voice-overs for animation,
narration, and
films; videostreaming, Web casting, videoconferencing;
industrial videos; and video games. Dr. Howard
sends and posts regular
notices about performance and employment opportunities. She
regularly arranges
workshops
in
personal marketing and
up-to-date training for students and
alumni.
The UMHB Performance Studies program provides
ongoing
performance workshops that are also open to the
public.
It
critical that Performance Studies students meet and work with
professionals who are in cutting-edge
work in their fields
of
interest and
preparation (such as in theater, radio, television,
film, and distance
e-technology industries). UMHB
Performance
Studies workshops provide students and the public opportunities
to meet and receive training from leading
industry
professionals. In each of the workshops, the participants are
able to work with successful, accomplished, currently working
professionals in film, theater, radio, television,
or e-technology
fields. These presenters are delightful, excellent
instructors,
whose presentations are in line with UMHB's mission and
strategic plans.
UMHB Performance Studies faculty keep current in new
developments in theater, radio, television, film and
e-technology
fields. They look for and meet professionals who
can assist UMHB students and alumni to keep up
with
cutting-edge skills
and techniques to enable them to interface
with new opportunities. Advanced
Performance Studies students
and alumni
(who are successful in Performance Studies fields,
who are good role models, and who can share with students the
secrets of their success) are also invited
to present in these
workshops.
Other fundamental goals of the UMHB Performance Studies
program involve encouraging attitudes and
character
qualities
in students that enable them to be maximally
effective and marketable as Christian artists
and
communicators. Performance Studies courses encourage talent
that is well-suited for commercial and academic performance
organizations and
talent/casting agencies. This program
supplies real-world needs and desires for talent that is
trained but also have the
following qualities: natural, honest, real, positive, willing to
serve, heart-felt, and open to direction (with egos left at
the door). Effective team skills are cultivated
(and Prima
Donna complexes are discouraged). Fundamentally, the goals
of this program involve training
talent in a broad range of
styles that include the following characteristics: honesty, empathy, believability, imagination,
confidence, and edification. Therefore, the UMHB Performance
Studies Division is well-aligned
with
real-world
opportunities to productively use talent in constructive
venues and contexts, regionally to internationally.
The UMHB Performance Studies Division in the Dept. of
Communication and Media Studies is a founding
member of
Performance Studies International.
PSi is a professional association founded in 1997 to promote
communication and
exchange among scholars and practitioners
working in the field of performance. We seek to create
opportunities for
dialogue among artists and academics in a
variety of disciplines whose concerns
converge in the
still-evolving areas of
live art and performance. PSi is
actively committed to creating a
membership base of artists and
scholars from throughout
the world. (PSi, 2000)
The first university program was created at NYU. Since the
'60s, Performance Studies has been established
around to
world
in
various academic, university contexts: Communication,
Performing Arts, Interdisciplinary
Studies, and Media
Studies. This interdisciplinary Performance Studies field (that
is more about practice)
supersedes theater and performing
arts
(that are more about place). It also supersedes performance of
literature studies, as it also involves performance
practices of
everyday life in cultures and societies across
the globe and
throughout history.
Our Performance Studies program (with its global and historical
scope, depth, and breath) is a good fit for a
university
with a
Christian world-view. It effectively
equips
our students for viable work and ministry around the world.
Performance Studies Scholarships are available to ongoing
Performance Studies students.
There are many other types of UMHB scholarships and financial
aid available.
See
http://www.dianehoward.com/umhb_performance_studies_scholarships.htm
Communication/Performance Studies Curriculum Vitae
Current Performance Studies Projects
Current
UMHB Performance Studies Programming and Research
Curriculum Design Philosophy
Distance
Facilitation/Education Vitae
Distance
Performance/Communication/Education, Projects/Papers
Graduate Programs- Performance Studies
Internships
Professional Network
Recent
Publications/Presentations
Resources & Tips in Effective Autobiographical
Writing/Performing
and Effective, Distance Communication/Presentation/Performance
Statistics- Faculty & Students in National Communication
Study Abroad
Teaching Philosophy, Practice,
and Contributions
Townsend Virtual Library-
Performance, Theater, Communication Resources
UMHB Performance Studies/Communication
Alumni
Well-Known, National,
Communication Grads
What You Can Do with a Communication Degree
For information contact Dr. Diane Howard,
dhoward@vvm.com
Box 8012, UMHB, Belton, TX , USA 76513; (254) 295-4685 |
