How do films create meaning? How do images, sound, performance, editing, and storytelling work together to shape our understanding of a story, a character, or an entire world?

Lights, Camera, Meaning is an ongoing film studies series taught by Maggie Parke that explores cinema as both an art form and a cultural force. Through close analysis, discussion, and accessible critical frameworks, students will develop the tools to read films thoughtfully and engage more deeply with visual storytelling.

Topics may include the language of cinema, adaptation across media, screenwriting and story development, genre studies, animation, fantasy and speculative film, directors and creative voices, popular franchises, and the evolving relationship between film, culture, and audiences. Drawing on examples from beloved classics, contemporary cinema, and adaptation-rich works such as Tolkien and beyond, the series invites students to consider not only what stories mean, but how films create that meaning.

Designed for students from any background, Lights, Camera, Meaning combines rigorous analysis with an enthusiasm for storytelling, offering a welcoming space for anyone who wants to watch films with sharper eyes, deeper insight, and greater appreciation for the craft of cinema.