New Media Arts School Launches at Purchase College

Purchase College has implemented a new school for new media afficionados this fall. The School of Film and Media Studies was created to provide students the necessary tools of the trade to succeed in the new and always changing aspects of the media industry.

The new program prepares students for future careers in film, new media, video production, video art, web design, popular music and more.

Provost of Purchase College, Damian Fernandez said in a press release statement, "The program provides our students with multi-dimensional training that equips them for the critical thinking and creativity which is in demand in today's world. The arts and liberal arts are fully integrated in ways that make our students highly sought after."

Program Chair and Associate Professor of Cinema Studies, Michelle Stewart discussed how the program will benefit the college and its' students in the new school year.

"The highlights of the curriculum and very diverse—very disciplinary. We combine the existing film conservatory program for analog film," she said. "Our biggest program is new media where students work with media critique and creation as well as media society arts, which is our sociological and anthropological critique of how media is used and transformed in our lives in the way we think and interact."

The school has garnered interest from some students already on campus, and Purchase is hoping it catches on with any students interested in adding some diversity to their resume.

"In the first year and a half, you take photography, video production classes and web design—and then you choose your focus," said Purchase senior, Jared Kaplan. "I thought it was interesting because you don't have to limit yourself for what you want to do."

"I'm already working for a fine art magazine so I do web design and I like a bit of everything. I currently do freelance work for different companies, so I'm going toward that area of web design when I graduate and I'll hopefully run my own business at some point," said Joan Himmelstein, another Purchase senior.

Cameron Kafura, a junior at the school, said the school sparked his interest in film. He said he was originally accepted into another school but decided that the new media studies program at Purchase was the better choice.

"The media was a good match for what I wanted to do—it's my third year now and it just worked out so well," he said. "I would love to be able to graduate and be the master of my craft—this program opens you up to a larger job community." 

For more information on the School of Film and Media Studies, visit their website.