History and Hamilton 

Biography:

Hi everyone! My name is Lily Amidon (she/her), a fourth-year student studying history and gender and sexuality studies, and I am so excited to teach “History and Hamilton” this spring! I have lived in Southern California my entire life, and I previously attended Santiago Canyon College (2020-2022) before transferring to UCI, my dream school. I love research: I am currently writing my honors thesis on women’s resistance in occupied France during World War II, and I have written several papers that combine my interests in history, women’s history, sports studies, media studies, and gender and sexuality studies. Off campus, I spend a lot of time attempting to get through my TBR, playing with my three dogs, being creative (through art, writing, video games, and music), playing lacrosse for UCI, and watching science fiction, fantasy, and historical (or history-inspired) shows and movies. I became interested in teaching because of some great teachers, a family tradition, and years of coaching youth lacrosse here in Orange County. After UCI, I plan on attending graduate school to obtain a Ph.D. in history (with a certificate in gender studies) so I can pursue my dream of becoming a professor, and UTeach is setting me on that path. My goal as a UTeach instructor and, eventually, a professor is to share what I love with others and hopefully have students learn something along the way. I cannot wait to share this course with you – there’s a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait because I am not throwing away my shot!

Course Description:

Students will examine Hamilton: An American Musical and analyze the inclusion and exclusion of particular historical figures, such as the Founding Fathers, topics, and events, as well as their portrayal by a diverse and atypical cast of non-white performers. Through this groundbreaking production, students will explore intersections between race, class, and gender to better understand the musical’s impact on the popular perception and depiction of this historical moment. Students will explore the challenges of depicting race, gender, and sexuality in period pieces in the context of the musical’s contemporary reframing of historical figures and events. Students will support their analyses with evidence from academic secondary sources. In short, students will examine how Hamilton both casts and depicts well-known historical figures, how its creators use distinct music genres to do so, and what the causes and consequences of these creative decisions mean for Hamilton’s portrayal of late eighteenth century American history.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Allison Perlman

Ethics in the Emergency Room

Biography:

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Sven Bernecker

Shakespeare in High School

Biography:

Hey there! My name is Lynaea and I’m a third year English major with a double minor in Creative Writing and Classics. I’m planning on getting my MA/PhD in Classics after undergrad and hopefully become a Professor of Classics. I spend my free time reading, writing, working out and watching Formula One. I am probably the most stereotypical English major as one of my favorite topics is Shakespeare and I love getting to talk about it. I’ve found through my conversations with people that a lot of people dislike Shakespeare because they found it too confusing or boring. I felt that a lot of people didn’t realize that Shakespeare is prevalent in modern culture in more digestible content and actually a lot of films are inspired by Shakespearean tropes and plays, so I decided to make this course!

I have always known I wanted to be some kind of teacher, so when I received an email about the UTeach program, I was so excited to apply. I’m excited to have this opportunity to teach something I’m passionate about and I’m hoping to give students a new perspective and maybe even change their minds about Shakespeare.

Course Description:

One of the most common modern day criticisms about Shakespeare is that it is too confusing for current audiences. Because of this, a lot of people tend to avoid Shakespearean literature like the plague and try to “leave it in the past”. What a lot of people don’t realize is that Shakespeare is still extremely relevant in contemporary media. Besides the countless number of Shakespearean tropes that have made their way into present day film, modernized movie adaptations of his plays are still very popular, and a lot of people don’t even realize they’re Shakespeare! Movies like 10 Things I Hate About You and She’s the Man are directly based on the plays Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night. Other movies, like Mean Girls, are not originally meant to be adaptations, but share major similarities to the play Julius Caesar. In my course we will be taking a deeper look into all three of these movies and comparing them to the original texts to see what has stayed the same, what has changed and what it says about the society of the time. We will also try to understand why Shakespeare has stayed so relevant to modern society despite being written over 400 years ago.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Julia Lupton

Music Subcultures

Biography:

Hi everyone! My name is Erika Cao [ Koh ]. I’m a fourth-year international studies major and sociology minor, and an incoming anthropology PhD student at UCLA. As a musician and scholar, I love exploring the historical, cultural, and political dimensions of music. This course expands from my fieldwork research (in Singapore’s punk rock scene) into a wider network of countries and genres of music. Outside of research and teaching, you can find me gigging with my funk band Jaguar Milk, nose-buried deep in any book by Murakami, or concocting protein ice cream with my friends to fuel our gym rat dreams. 

One of my personal missions is to find deeper ways of engaging with music. This class aims to challenge the passive consumption of music by investigating how the threads of community, histories, and resistance weave into the cultural fabric of music. I would be thrilled to have you join me for these exciting 10 weeks of musical exploration and discussion!

Course Description:

Music holds immense cultural power. It can build social connections, mobilize resistance, and organize time by shaping popular memory. Whether you’re listening to a song during a morning commute or dancing among the masses at a techno house rave, every music consumer actively constructs our cultural world. Every moment of music listening is therefore a shared cultural experience that is in constant dialogue with the dynamic flows of power within a given place, time, and social context.

This course will explore these concepts through an anthropological study of seven music subcultures from cities around the world. The class will cover scenes within punk rock, hip hop, EDM, and K-pop across countries like the U.S., Singapore, France, Brazil, and Germany. From investigating French politics and religion through hip hop to examining Brazilian gender and sexuality within funk carioca, students will learn about the details of the subcultures themselves and the sociocultural contexts each case study emerged from. We will study each scene by analyzing music videos, lyrics, posters, and documentaries from each subculture and engaging in rich discussions. Be prepared for some fantastic music and a whole lot of fun!

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Tom Boellstorff

Bob Dylan

Biography:

Hi everyone! My name is Oliver, and I’m a fourth-year English Major. My fascination with Bob Dylan began a few years ago, although I have always enjoyed listening to music from the 60s and 70s (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, etc…), and culminated in a longer research paper I wrote last year on Dylan, death, and climate change. When I first listen to a Dylan song, I often struggle to pull together a solid interpretation immediately; the more I dig into and analyze his songs, however, the more enamored I become with his complex integration of literary themes and structures within his music. I’m looking forward to working through these literary techniques in many fascinating Dylan songs during the quarter! In my spare time, I love to play my guitar, including a few Dylan songs, and watch baseball (Go Dodgers!). I have primarily found my passion for teaching over my years of coaching baseball, from Little League all the way up to the high school level. I’m currently working on a senior thesis centered on temporality and the storytelling of longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully. My career plan is to apply to graduate school this fall, work through a Ph.D. in English, and eventually teach at a community college, as I transferred out of Pasadena City College myself a couple of years ago.

Course Description:

“Bob Dylan’s Storytelling” aims to analyze the songs of Bob Dylan through a literary framework. Although we will not completely ignore Dylan’s musical compositions, this course will primarily focus on his lyrics over his instrumentals. The course will center around two distinct units: the first focusing on Dylan’s use of the traditional ballad form and his individual variations and innovations of that form, and the second focusing on the constructions of Dylan’s protest songs and his social activism. Between these sections will be weeks dedicated to the discussion of specific techniques used in literary discourse, in order to familiarize students with the process of poetic analysis. While these themes will receive the majority of attention throughout the quarter, this course also acknowledges the inherent heteroglossia, or polyvocality, within Dylan’s catalogue; as a result, the main objective of this course will be for students to engage critically with Dylan’s work from a variety of perspectives, rather than reaching a single “definitive” or “conclusive” reading of these songs.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Rebecca Davis

True Crime and Women

Biography:

Hi everyone! My name is Desirae (she/her) and I’m a 3rd-year Criminology, Law and Society and Psychological Sciences double major with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. After graduating, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in any area that’ll let me explore and investigate the intersection of crime, media, and women. I’ve grown up with a love for crime dramas (Criminal Minds, Forensic Files, Dexter, etc.) and true crime documentaries. It is only through college that I’ve learned and researched that I can take that love further. Hence, why I wanted to be a part of UTeach and share this class: to explore these crime mediums with you all! We all consume crime media in a variety of ways and this class intends to speak to that with, of course, a specific emphasis on its gendered nature. Outside of my academic classes, you can find me leading book discussions as President of Book Club @ UCI or baking up a storm as an Executive Board member of Anteaters Sprinkling Happiness (the baking club on campus). If you’re ever interested in developing a love for books or baking, feel free to reach out and I’d be happy to share all my favorite books and recipes! For now though, I am super excited to have the opportunity to share all the connections between gender, media, and true crime through UTeach!

Course Description:

The media genre known as true crime has grown into a modern sensation to the point that criminals such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer have become household names. There are countless true crime documentaries, dramatizations, podcasts, videos, and books produced that satiate the public’s desire to explore this criminality. However, as this media grows, its audience and engagement has become significantly female. Given such, this course invites students to investigate how women consume, interact, and produce true crime media. By analyzing various forms of true crime and their audience interactions, students will familiarize themselves with how this genre directly engages with women and how the women themselves work to engage right back with it. In doing so, students will dissect the way in which true crime media has become gendered and how this gendered nature translates to real-world interactions and concepts.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Brandon Golob

Reproductive Justice & The Law

Biography:

Hello everyone! My name is Alyssa (she/her) and I’m a fourth-year majoring in Philosophy with a minor in African American Studies. After graduating, I plan to continue my educational journey in law school and eventually pursue a legal career. Though, reading and discussing philosophy and critical theory will always have a special place in my heart! Outside of my academic interests, I enjoy tending to my many plants, writing witty reviews on Letterboxd, spending time skiing in the backcountry, and, as of recently, learning to surf. While I’m originally from Toronto, I’ve enjoyed exploring all that Southern California has to offer during my time here at UCI. I first became involved in advocacy work for reproductive rights in early high school when my province took legislative measures to protect reproductive health clinics and their patients from harassment and intimidation. Since then, my engagement with reproductive justice has expanded to include a more specific interest in the nuances of reproductive law. Given the ever-changing nature of our contemporary legal and political landscape, I was especially motivated to create this course in the hopes of shedding light on the inner workings of reproductive law and policy.

Course Description:

This course will offer students an opportunity to explore the legal and political history of reproductive rights in the United States and consider the future implications of contemporary reproductive law. Throughout the seminar, we will learn about and critically analyze landmark legal cases that concern both the expansion and restriction of reproductive rights. Some of the cases that we will cover during the quarter include: Roe v. Wade, Relf v. Weinberger, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and more! Through this examination of reproductive law, you will gain a better understanding of legal terminology and argumentation. Additionally, we will consider how racism and exploitation played significant roles in shaping contemporary reproductive policy. Our seminar will culminate in a reflective discussion on what the future of reproductive justice might look like given the constantly changing state of American reproductive law and policy. Overall, my hope for this course is to provide a learning environment that promotes thoughtful and open discussion on the legal, political, and social implications of reproductive legislation. No prior knowledge of reproductive history or law is required.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Mahaliah A. Little

Original Pilipino Music

Biography:

Hello! My name is Michael Castigador Balerite (he/him) and I am a current third-year student double majoring in Music and Political Science. I am currently appointed as the Student Conductor for the UC Irvine Choirs as well as the Music Co-Director for the Filipino Catholic Community—Liwanag in addition to serving on the Music Committee for Anteater Catholic. A regular singer with the UC Irvine Chamber Singers and with the UC Irvine Opera, you can regularly hear me on stage at CTSA (or on the UC Irvine Chamber Singers’ EP, Winter Night!). I am also actively involved in interfaith initiatives on campus to increase understanding and collaboration between faith groups and traditions. I plan to obtain a master’s degree in choral conducting and a JD within the next decade. Outside of school, you can find me visiting interesting restaurants, studying musical manuscripts, and supporting Tottenham Hotspur. Ever since the day I was born, my life was steeped in two things: my heritage, and love of music. My household was constantly singing ballads and tunes as well as instilling in me an admiration and pride for Filipino culture, spirituality, and tradition. Back in the Philippines, I would often rise at the crack of dawn to join my grandfather in listening to the Beatles and other artists on the crackly radio, with the choir of crowing roosters in the background. Such memories form the foundation of my course this spring quarter. This course, Original Pilipino Music, is not just a class—it is a project of passion and love for the people who taught me to embrace my lineage. It is dedicated to my parents and grandparents, who let their homes be filled with love and song.

Course Description:

Original Pilipino Music, or “OPM”, is an industry term used to describe the popular music scene in the Philippines. Much like K-pop or J-pop, it is a product of a trend of changing socioeconomic landscapes throughout Asia. Unlike the two, however, the genre has itself become a reflection and commentary on the life of the Filipino. It is a medium for nationalism, activism, and political expression within the Philippines. This unique status of OPM makes it a prime case study for musicological research. This course seeks to answer the question: By tracing the evolution of Original Pilipino Music, could we create a musicological historical tapestry of the evolution of Philippine society itself? This class will not only be a study of music, but also of history, politics, religion, and sociology all in one, through the musicological lens– for such is the very nature of OPM itself. No prior knowledge of Filipino culture or language, nor of music theory, is required

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Irene Messoloras

Queer Retellings

Biography:

Hi everyone! I’m Jessica and I’m a fourth-year double major in Cognitive Science and English. I love to be involved on campus: I’m a member of Pi Beta Phi, the Cognitive Science Association, and Order of Omega, as well as a Research Assistant in the Bilingualism, Mind, and Brain Lab and an advisor at an office on campus. When I’m not attending one of my many commitments, I love to read queer literary fiction, watch so-called “plotless” movies, take yoga and dance classes, and do arts/crafts. You’ll often find me at concert venues and theaters in LA and OC—I really can’t live without live performances.

Course Description:

This course will cover multiple mediums—including film, drama, and novel—which are all contemporary, queer adaptations of classic stories from Ovid and Shakespeare. We will explore media analysis techniques through the movie Portrait of a Lady on Fire, the play Fat Ham, and the novel Girl Meets Boy, focusing on what it means for modern creatives to adapt classics into queer stories across genres. From this course, you will gain a toolkit for analyzing different types of media and strengthen critical comparison skills in working across classic versus contemporary stories. This course was inspired by a performance of Fat Ham I watched, and I was enamored with the concept of a contemporary queer, black Hamlet story. The media I’ve chosen are among my all-time favorites, and I cannot wait to share my endless enthusiasm for it with students. If you’re interested in queer storytelling, a variety of media analysis practices, or classics, this is the course for you!

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Jonathan Alexander

Books Behind Bars: Higher Education While Incarcerated

Biography:

Hi everyone! My name is Jamie Li Damonti (she/her)! I’m a third-year student studying History and Criminology, Law and Society, and I am so excited to teach “Books Behind Bars: Higher Education While Incarcerated”! After graduating, I plan on attending law school to become a public interest lawyer—a dream I’ve had since high school. Outside the classroom, you can find me tutoring/talking with my coworkers in the Writing Center, TA-ing at the Saturday Academy of Law, or playing puzzle games (normally on Roblox) with my friends. Most recently, I have been playing We Were Here!  While I have been interested in criminal justice system reform since high school, I became especially interested in its intersections with education after teaching four classes of 9th graders about their Constitutional rights and public interest law. I’m thrilled to now have the opportunity to combine my passions for criminal reform and education into a course! I can’t wait to see everyone in class 🙂

Course Description:

Why did I go to college? This question probably haunts most college students, but for students behind bars, this question can hold a different depth. My course seeks to challenge students within my classroom to critically examine their own answers to this question, while also exploring the goals and significance of higher education within prisons. Throughout the quarter, we will address what prison education programs are and the lack of educational opportunities in American prisons to connect this absence to this nation’s broader historical landscape. We will also analyze multiple domestic and international prison education programs to consider how different universities approach their programs and to learn distinct approaches to incarceration and reform. By the end of the course, we will not only understand program-to-program barriers to education but also grasp why the United States, despite having the highest incarceration rate in the world and the proven effectiveness of prison education as a tool to curb reincarceration, has failed to implement widespread educational programs for prisoners.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Brandon Golob

Digital Transmedia Storytelling

Biography:

Hello there! My name is Nataly Juarez, but you can call me Taly. I am a third-year Film & Media Studies major with a personal interest in game research and I am thrilled to be a UTeacher this year! I have always lived by the value of pursuing your passion and making education fun. As a student devoted to all things adventurous, I hope to extend my fascination for interactive stories with my class.

Currently, a part of my adventure here at UCI includes playing percussion in the Anteater Pep Band, working as a technician for athletics and the FMS department, advocating for queer representation, and supporting student filmmakers. As a game fanatic, I enjoy its visual, musical, and narrative similarities to film. I also like to sew, play Dungeons & Dragons, cook, and watch cartoons. I am greatly inspired to teach by my high school band director and teachers.

Course Description:

The culture of gaming is very prominent in online society and can be used as a tool to make stories more accessible. Digital Transmedia Storytelling is a course designed to analyze how games are being utilized by entertainment franchises and independent creators. The class will analyze puzzle-solving methods used by internet communities that are dedicated to playing video games, watching videos, finding secret codes, and more. Students will learn how digital elements of transmedia storytelling share common features with other games that have made their way into popular culture. The class will explore how this narrative format has altered entertainment and information accessibility, enabling people from different backgrounds to freely solve different puzzles, where the reward is the story.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Aaron Trammell

Vietnam War Stories

Biography:

Hi there! My name is Brian Nguyen and I am a fifth-year double major in English and Political Science with a minor in Creative Writing. At UCI, I am the Poetry Editor for New Forum and I do research in critical university studies and political economy. Outside of school, you can find me milling about at art museums or cycling to and from coffee shops. I like to think that I am enthused by many things—chief among them are food, friends, and literature. Other than that, I like film photography, reading/writing poetry, and board games!

As a first-generation Vietnamese American college student, this course is an attempt to reconcile my identity with my love of literature and storytelling. I look forward to having some fun reading together!

Course Description:

The Vietnam War has had a tremendous life in terms of its media representation. Known as the first television war, the stories told about the war in Vietnam began, for many Americans, on the home TV screen. But these narratives have a range of tellers, modes, and mediums, and this course sets out to explore the variety of ways the war has been represented. We will discuss excerpts and texts that take the form of novels, short stories, films, and poems while attending to multiple perspectives other than just that of the American soldier. The common thread that ties these different perspectives and forms together is that of memory. How does memory, and more specifically trauma, limit or facilitate the act of writing or storytelling? How does the act of remembering through storytelling work to erase or form identity groups for those involved in the war? The aim of this course is for students to leave having familiarized themselves with some of the different perspectives involved in the Vietnam War and having thought about trauma-informed writing and the ethics of storytelling.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Michael Szalay

L.A. on Film

Biography:

Hello everyone! My name is Victoria and I am a fourth-year double major in English and Literary Journalism with a minor in Creative Writing. At UCI, you can find me editing news articles for New University, reporting for KUCI, or studying in Aldrich Park. In my spare time, I love attending screenings at my favorite repertory theaters and picking up new hobbies—among them are snowboarding, cooking, and coloring! As a film fanatic, I enjoy discovering new movies and delving into different genres (don’t hesitate to share your favorite films with me!). I’m looking forward to exploring Los Angeles through film with you all!

Course Description:

Los Angeles stands out as one of the most diverse cities in America, with a mix of cultures, cuisines, and immigrant-dense areas. In a similar vein, there are many representations of Los Angeles, especially in film; such that the city is constantly being reinterpreted through this artistic medium.

In “Los Angeles Sees Itself,” students will study four primary texts: Sunset Boulevard (1950), Chinatown (1974), Boyz in the Hood (1991), Licorice Pizza (2021). The course will facilitate discussion about the aesthetic qualities of the selected films and link them with historical contexts through secondary multimedia texts. Each film speaks to a different representation of Los Angeles, and examines a director’s narrative interpretation of the city.

From this course, you will gain a toolkit for thematic and technical film analysis and learn about how Los Angeles is imagined on the silver screen.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Cole Morgan

History of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Biography:

Hello, Anteaters! I’m Shreyas, a Computer Science and Economics double major, and it is my honor and privilege to be your instructor for the “History of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning” class under the UTeach Program. As an undergraduate student researcher under Prof. Nalini Venkatasubramanian under the CAREDEX Program, I currently work on implementing machine learning algorithms to create an artificial comprehensive medical dataset that can be used to model responses to natural disasters, especially among senior citizens.  Previously, I have also worked at Coefficient where I implemented algorithms to determine the likelihood of a user converting to a paid subscription using user data. On campus, I take an active role at the Associated Students of the University of California, Irvine where I serve as the Academic Affairs Vice President (AAVP). At ASUCI, I work with UCI’s administration to shape academic policy with student perspectives. Besides this, I love to binge-watch TV Shows (especially Game of Thrones), and I love playing with my Golden Retriever Pluto!

This provides me with a unique perspective on how popular Large Language Models (like ChatGPT and Gemini) have impacted education. This drives me to explore how modern events impacted AI model development, forcing us to question why certain design principles were chosen above others. UTeach is the perfect place for me to share this fascination with others! I am so excited that I have this opportunity to share these interests in machine learning and AI through UTeach.

Course Description:

This course aims to provide UCI students with the context and history behind the recent meteoric rise in the relevance of Artificial Intelligence.This course is designed such that no prior knowledge of the subject matter is required. It will delve into the journey and evolution of AI, tracing its origins and exploring its future potential. The course begins with the origins of computers and machine learning, highlighting the significant events, progress, and setbacks that led to the first AI Winter in the 1970s. This includes the history and construction of The Perceptron, the development of backpropagation, and the limitations of computational power at the time. We will also examine the impact of the Lighthill Report on AI research. The course will then shift to explore potential future applications of Artificial Intelligence and its moral implications on society.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Alexander Ihler

Bollywood and Mental Health

Biography:

Hi! I’m Asrita Prathigudupu (Ash), a third-year Biological Sciences major at UC Irvine. I’m passionate about understanding the human mind and exploring how biological and societal factors shape mental health. When I’m not buried in my studies, you can usually find me watching romcoms, diving into dystopian novels, and experimenting with new recipes. When I need to unwind after a long day, I love singing—it’s my go-to way to relax. I’m actively involved in campus organizations, like Model UN, where I serve as the Under Secretary General for Specials and have helped organize conferences for high school students. In addition, I’m conducting research in the fields of mental health and social connection, as well as studying chemotherapy- and radiation-induced cognitive deficits.

My ultimate goal is to become a psychiatrist, blending my scientific background with my passion to improve mental health care. I’m excited to join UTeach because teaching is something I’m truly passionate about. I can’t wait to inspire students, spark their curiosity, and help them explore new ideas the way that incredible teachers have done for me.

Course Description:

Now, onto this course! Bollywood and Mental Health is an exploration of how Bollywood, as one of the most powerful cinematic industries, has shaped public perceptions of mental illness in India. Over the course of the quarter, we’ll analyze how mental health has been portrayed in Bollywood films, looking at everything from the more negative, stigmatized portrayals of earlier films to the more nuanced, realistic depictions we see in more recent releases. Films like Khilona (1970), Taare Zameen Par (2007), and Dear Zindagi (2016) will be key in our discussions, as we explore the ways in which these movies have both reflected and influenced changing societal views on mental health. We’ll also dig into how Bollywood has played a role in reducing stigma and raising awareness about mental health, while critically analyzing the societal context behind these portrayals. I’m thrilled to guide you through this unique intersection of film, psychology, and cultural understanding, and I hope we can together uncover the powerful impact that cinema has on shaping public attitudes toward mental illness.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Beheroze Shroff and Bruce G. Berg

Animation in Anime

Biography:

Hello and welcome to 2D Animation in Anime! I’m Bill, a fourth-year Game Design major with a minor in Information & Computer Science at UCI. Some of my favorite shows would be Frieren, Bocchi the Rock, and Mob Psycho for their incredible animation. I’ve loved both making and watching animation since I was a kid. Whether in game development or my own personal projects, 2D animation and the anime style have influenced my art a ton. I run the art club Anteater Artists (formerly Animation Anteaters) on campus, and hope to use my experience to share some interesting knowledge with you all! Besides animation, I also enjoy playing piano for the Euphonic Video Game Ensemble, and playing games like Hollow Knight 🙂

Course Description:

2D Animation in Anime offers an immersive exploration of the Japanese animation industry and the captivating art form of anime. From topics such as its history, conceptualization, and distribution, students will gain insights into the meticulous pipeline that transforms ideas into the final products cherished by people worldwide.

Through this course, students will grasp a deeper comprehension of the production of anime along with the creative decisions in creating animation. Students will analyze animated scenes, and gain valuable insight into the industry through in-depth discussions and activities. No prerequisite knowledge of animation or Japanese animation is required.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Constance Steinkuehler

Career Women on TV

Biography:

Greetings, fellow Anteaters! My name is Raffi Sarian, and I’m a fourth-year Film and Media Studies student. I’m excited to be a UTeacher this year! As an Armenian-American from Glendale, California, I have a deep appreciation for storytelling, particularly in classic movies and TV series. I firmly believe in the power of film to connect people and spark meaningful conversations, and I aim to bring that passion into the classroom. Outside my school work, you can always find me exploring the vibrant restaurant scene with friends and family or collaborating on film projects with my peers at UCI. In addition to my love for film, I enjoy celebrating my cultural heritage and sharing it with others through food and storytelling. I’m inspired by the dynamic community around me and the creative spirit at UCI, and I look forward to creating an engaging and fun learning environment for my students. Let’s make this a memorable journey together!

Course Description:

Embark on a captivating exploration of how television has portrayed career women from the mid-20th century to the present day. At the heart of this course is The Mary Tyler Moore Show, serving as our foundational series to examine the evolution of the career woman on screen. We’ll analyze how Mary Richards’ predecessors and successors have navigated professional spaces, challenged societal norms, and inspired generations. From (I Love Lucy) Lucy’s comedic forays into the workforce to (Parks and Rec) Leslie Knope’s dedication to public service, this course offers an engaging mix of screenings, discussions, and creative projects. Together, we’ll uncover the cultural shifts that have encouraged these portrayals and shaped the lasting impact of these iconic characters, considering the continued significance of the career woman in a new era of media.

Enrollment Information: TBA
Faculty Mentor: Victoria Johnson