Film and Media Studies

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Please also note the other Communication categories on the wiki: Communication_studies and Mass Communication/PR/ADV/Journalism. If you have info on jobs in these categories, please post it! Please move all rumors, hearsay, and innuendo to the General Questions and Discussion section at the bottom of the page.

Campus Visit Scheduled (please specify date)
Position offered (2/10) ,br> ANYONE know if Tulane has made an offer?
 * Arizona State University (Film and Media Studies)- late January and February campus visits
 * Bentley College - January campus visit scheduled
 * Brandeis, January campus visit scheduled (2)
 * Bryn Mawr campus visit scheduled 1/29
 * Carleton College
 * Colby, January campus visit scheduled (1/14)
 * Columbia College, Chicago (week of Dec. 3) campus visits complete--references being called
 * DePaul University Chicago - visits complete
 * East Tennessee SU
 * Emerson, campus visits late Feb/early March
 * Fordham (Film/TV position) - visits scheduled for late February
 * Georgia State (Moving Image Studies TT) - January campus visit scheduled
 * Georgia Tech - campus visit scheduled 1/7
 * George Mason 3 candidates invited for campus visits (email 12/18)
 * Georgetown - Culture and Politics
 * Grinnell College (3 candidates invited to campus)
 * Gustavus Adolphus College - campus visit scheduled 2/8
 * Indiana University (Digital Media) - January campus visit scheduled
 * Lake Forest College - Invitation extended for January or February (2)
 * Lehigh Univ
 * Loyola Digital Cinema, has invited candidates to campus
 * Maryville University - Mid March visits
 * Middlebury College - mid Jan campus visits
 * Northeastern Illinois University-has invited finalists for the media studies position
 * Rutgers - campus visit scheduled
 * Southern Illinois U, scheduling campus visits
 * SUNY Potsdam (new media) - February
 * Temple University (Broadcasting, Telecommunication, and Mass Media) - VISITS complete Interviewed Ohio U PhD, UW Madison PhD, Northwestern ABD, Penn ABD
 * Texas Christian (TV Studies) January visit scheduled. Interviewed UW Madison PhD, Northwestern PhD, Michigan State PhD
 * Trinity College - on-campus interviews scheduled for mid-March (email 2/26)
 * Tulane - Media studies-campus visits complete


 * UBC Okanagan - campus visit scheduled
 * University of California, Santa Cruz - campus visits complete
 * University of California, San Diego (TV Studies) - January and February campus visits scheduled
 * UIC -Chicago Black Popular Cultural Studies-has invited finalists to campus
 * University of Colorado, Boulder - campus visit scheduled
 * University of Georgia-- according to website, campus visits taking place (3/5)
 * University of Iowa - campus visit scheduled for late January (2)
 * U of Manitoba (Assistant, International/World Cinema) - Invitation extended for 3rd or 4th week of January
 * University of New Hamsphire (Media Studies) - December campus visit scheduled
 * University of North Florida - January campus visit scheduled
 * University of San Francisco-Contacted in December for campus interview in Feb. Interviewed several people already on the TT elsewhere. Interviews completed.
 * University of Virginia-- currently conducting "on-grounds interviews" according to program admin. 2/12 Interviews complete.
 * University of Washington, Seattle (have they offered anyone this position yet?) yes. Position filled (2/19)
 * U Wash Tacoma, campus visits complete, or almost complete
 * U Wisconsin at Oshkosh (have they offered anyone this position yet?)
 * Wesleyan U - does anyone have any further information etc. re. Wesleyan? The search committee was meant to have met last week?? when are the campus visits scheduled? see below. 2/29 - Closed, no appt. See Rejections list.
 * Westminster College - campus visit scheduled
 * Wofford College - campus visits scheduled

Position Offered
York University: position offered and accepted
 * Carleton College -- offered and accepted
 * Colby College (job offered and accepted, according to rejection letter)Hired a U Chicago ABD
 * Columbia College, Chicago offered but NOT accepted, still open as of 3/9
 * DePaul U (job offered and accepted) Hired an Emory ABD
 * Emerson--job offered
 * Fordham (t-t)--job offered and accepted
 * Georgia State U (job offered and accepted)(Multiple offers out, since they are hiring several people) At least one of these lines went to a UCLA PhD
 * Grinnell College (job offered and accepted) Hired a Rutgers ABD
 * Indiana University (Digital Media, job offered and Accepted)
 * Lake Forest College (Media Studies) offered and accepted (Northwestern PhD)
 * North Carolina State University (job offered and accepted) Hired a Chicago PhD
 * Rhodes College (offered and accepted)
 * Rutgers
 * Temple U (BTMM) offered
 * Texas A & M (job offered and accepted)
 * Texas Christian. Job offered and accepted.
 * Tulane--Job offered to a U of Cal. grad (Berkeley? Irvine?)
 * UBC Okanagan (offered and accepted)
 * UCLA (offer made to MFA)
 * UCSD- TV Studies, offered and accepted-hired NYU PhD with TT exp.
 * UC Santa Cruz (job offered and accepted) hired a Cornell Ph.D.
 * University of Iowa (job offered and accepted)
 * University of Northern Colorado (Job offered and accepted)
 * University of San Francisco, Job offered
 * University of Virgina, job offered to a couple--2 positions, both have TT experience elsewhere.
 * University of North Florida (job offered and accepted)
 * University of Washington (job offered and accepted)
 * University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (offered and verbally accepted)Anyone know who got this job? Hired a UW Madison ABD
 * Ursinus-position offered to senior scholar
 * Wellesley Mellon Post-doc: interviewed 3 at SCMS, "anticipate hiring one of the three" (sent to all applicants via e-mail)
 * Wofford College (offer made and accepted)

Rejections (please specify date)
These #s in parentheses refer to the number of people using this wiki who have had a particular experience (requests, rejections, etc.)
 * Arizona State (snail mail 3/1)
 * Bentley - letter dated Dec. 7 (2)
 * Brandeis (Post-Doc, digital humanities) via postal mail, rec'd 12/18
 * Bryn Mawr, via mail 2/9.    Anyone know if they hired their VAP? FYI: They're still in campus visits
 * George Mason (Cultural Studies, Visual Media)via email 11/30 I checked status on this and was told I was never in the running as I applied online on the day after the deadline. Just FYI, in case anyone else uploaded on the 13th or later. Response: I never submitted an on-line application and I was shortlisted. GM sent out e-mails to all the shortlisted candidates who had not applied online (but paper apps) requesting them to fill out the web application several weeks after the deadline.
 * Georgetown (SFS)--via usps, rec. 1/22 (west coast)
 * Lake Forest 11/20 (2)
 * Macalester College - International Studies position in Culture, Technology, Media and Information Flows - nice paper letter stating 170 people applied 11/19 (6); 11/21
 * Rutgers University (Media Studies, Department of English), via email 12/18 (5)
 * Southern Illinois U
 * Northeastern Illinois U
 * Northwestern -- letter dated 2/25/2008 (2)
 * Pratt - They hired, email dated 3/6
 * Rhodes College (letter 3/5)
 * U of Northern CO, via mail 12/04 (3)
 * University of Colorado, Boulder (Digital Media, in English Department), via email 12/7; via email (12/18)
 * Ursinus College, via email 12/7 (3); via email 12/20 (1); via email 3/4 (file was kept "open" til now) (2)
 * UCSD Ethnic Studies
 * University of Mary Washington (Asst Prof New Media) 2/8/08 (via email).
 * Univeristy of Wisconsin, Madison 3/10
 * Washington University St Louis, snail mail 1/02 did anyone see that this may have been just posted as a full-time non-tenure-track lecturer position posted to SCMS 2/3? Yeah- I saw that too. With a 3/3 load, which I am certain is not what TT folks teach there.
 * Wesleyan U - Letter dated 2/29, postal mail. Reads, "we will not be making an appointment this year."

when were the rejections sent? via letter or email? I got this over the phone from the prgram assistant. I called and said I had another offer, they checked and said the committee would meet 1/29. Then they called on 1/30 to say I am not on the shortlist. I was not surprised as they advertised a position last year that was far closer to my fields, and I did not get called then either, so I thought applying again would be a long shot. Good luck, it sounds like it could be a great opportunity.
 * York University - (2/10) said they decided to interview only Canadian citizens. Q: Do you know if they made their interview list yet? I never got an email ack. of my app and am concerned they never got it. [They did send e-mail acks and have started to invite people for campus interviews.] Thanks very much for the info. Off to call Canada Post and yell at them!

Job Postings, 2007-08
(ack. rec'd 11.20)
 * American U in Cairo (Film Historian/Theorist)
 * Arizona State University (Film and Media Studies/media industries and production cultures) Acknowledgment received 12/17
 * Bard College (Film Historian deadline 12/15)
 * Brandeis (Post-Doc, digital humanities)
 * Bryn Mawr College (Film Studies, in English Department) Question: Has anyone heard from Bryn Mawr? Acknowledgment of receipt of app, perhaps? I have not. Just checking. A: I received an acknowledgment last week. See discussion below for "gossip."
 * California Baptist U (English & Film Studies, Open Rank)
 * Carleton College, (documentary) ack rec'd what form did this take?
 * Central Washington
 * Colby College (Assistant, Film & Literature)
 * College of Staten Island
 * Columbia College (Chicago)
 * Concordia University, Canada (Assistant, Film Studies) Q: Has the shortlist been made already?
 * DePaul University Chicago (Assistant Media and Cinema Studies) Review was announced to begin Oct 8 anyone heard from the committee yet?
 * East Tennessee SU (Assistant, Film Studies)
 * Edinboro college
 * Emerson Coll. (Asst. Media Studies) anyone hear anything other than snail-mail ack?
 * Emory U (Assistant, TT, feminist film theory) - Snail Mail ack. 3/3
 * Fairfield U (production and studies)
 * Fitchburg (details?) 4-2 load Has anyone heard anything about this?  Are they still in their process or have they already interviewed?  Or, is there an internal?
 * Florida SU (Assistant, Film Studies
 * Franklin Pierce
 * George Mason (Cultural Studies, Visual Media) Has anyone heard more than an email?
 * Georgia State (Moving Image Studies TT)(6 positions!)
 * Georgia State (Film Studies Lecturer)
 * Georgia Inst of Tech (Assistant, Film Studies)
 * Georgetown, SFS (Culture and Politics) (deleted once - why?)
 * Grinnell College (Assistant, Film History & Theory) ack rec'd
 * Gustavus Adolphus College (Assistant, Film Studies)
 * Harvard U (Assistant/Associate Professor of Film and Literary Studies) - Search Cancelled
 * Hendrix College (Assistant, Film Studies)
 * Hofstra (film studies) Has anyone rec'd anything other than snail mail ack?
 * Hunter College CUNY (Assistant, Media and Film Studies)
 * Indiana U (German Film)
 * Indiana U (Digital)
 * Ithaca College (Film Production)
 * Keene State
 * Lake Forest College (Media Studies)
 * Lehigh University (Journalism and Communication: Global Communication)
 * Macalester College (International Studies: film, media)
 * Maryville(media studies)
 * Middlebury College (Film/Media Production)
 * North Carolina SU (Assistant, Film Studies)
 * Northwestern U (details?)
 * New School - Eugene Lang College (Assistant Professor in Culture and Media)
 * Ohio U (Triple appointment! Sounds fun...)
 * Pratt (details?) Asst or Assoc, Media Studies
 * Princeton U (Assistant, Literature or Lit & Film of Africa)
 * Rhodes College (Assistant, Film Studies)
 * Rollins (1 year)
 * Rutgers University (Media Studies, Department of English)
 * Salem State, Massachusetts (Assistant, t-t, Communications: PR or media generalist)
 * Southern Illinois (Visual Culture and Media)
 * Stanford University (Film & Media Studies VAP)
 * Texas A&M U (Gender & Film Studies)
 * Texas Christian (TV Studies)
 * Temple University (Broadcasting, Telecommunication, and Mass Media)(ack. rec'd by snail mail)
 * Trinity College (e-mail ack rec'd 2/14)
 * Tulane University (Media Studies)
 * UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles)(Digital Media, in English Department)
 * UCLA (CMS, Open-rank Film History)
 * University of Chicago (open-rank, Cinema and Media Studies) ack rec'd
 * University of Colorado, Boulder (Digital Media, in English Department)
 * U of Illinois, Chicago (Assistant, Dept of African American Studies, specializing in film and media studies, visual culture, music, historical, etc)
 * University of Georgia (film studies) adv. VAP job last year so may have internal candidate
 * University of Hartford
 * University of Iowa (European Cinema/ Film Theory TT) ack rec'd
 * University of Mary Washington (Assist. Prof. New Media)
 * University of New Hamsphire (Media Studies) 3-2 load
 * University of Northern Colorado
 * University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (technology)
 * U of North Florida (Assistant, Film Studies)
 * University of Rhode Island (film studies; visiting asst prof job was advertised last year so they may have internal candidate) snail-mail ack rec'd 2/19, dated 2/11
 * University of California, San Diego (Television Studies)
 * University of San Diego
 * UC Santa Cruz (Critical Studies)- ack. rec'd via e-mail 11.20
 * U of Texas, Dallas (Assistant, Film Studies) - ack. rec'd via snail mail mid-november (2)
 * U of Texas, Dallas (Assistant, Emerging Media)
 * U of Toronto (Assistant, French-language Cinema)
 * U of Virginia (Media Studies) - Has anyone heard anything? e-mailed dept for update, contact is out of office until 12/12
 * U of Washington (Assistant, South-Asian Cinema)
 * U Wash Tacoma (Asst. Professor, Media studies & production) (Ack rec'd)
 * UW Oshkosh (Mass-Com/Broadcast Studies)
 * UW Milwaukee (film and new genres)
 * UW Madison (Visual Culture-open rank) (Ack rec'd: initial screening 1/18) Anyone hear anything yet?
 * Ursinus College (Assistant Professor of Film Studies) rec'd snail mail ack
 * Virginia Commonwealth University (Asst or Assoc, Cultural Studies, Media Studies) NEW AD on H-NET dated 12/18
 * Washington U, St. Louis (Film Studies)
 * Wheaton College (World Cinema)
 * Wellesley College (postdoc media and film studies)
 * Westminster College {Utah} (Film Studies)
 * Wesleyan U (film and American Studies)- 2/29 Closed, no appt. see Rejections List.
 * Wofford College (Asst. Prof, film studies in English department)
 * York University (Cinema and Media Studies) ack rec'd

Requests for Additional Material (please specify date of request)

 * George Mason (Cultural Studies, Visual Media) via email 10/19 (2) 11/20 (3) 11/20
 * Bryn Mawr (English and Film Studies) via email/phone 12/14
 * Brandeis (Post-Doc, digital humanities) via email 10/30
 * Colby College (Film and Literature) via email 11/30 Can you share with us what they asked for? [It seems like so much was required in the initial application.] Thanks! Yes, they requested a writing sample.
 * Emerson Coll. (Asst. Media Studies) - writing sample 12/22
 * FSU via e-mail 11/5 - requested letters and dossier (2)
 * Georgia State (Moving Image Studies TT) via email 11/27 (2)
 * Gustavus Adolphus College, via email 11/20 (2)
 * Lehigh University - requested phone conversation with reference 12/3
 * Macalester College -International Studies position in Culture, Technology, Media and Information Flows - Writing sample, sample syllabi and teaching dossier requested on 10/24. No word since then.(2)
 * Rhodes College, via email 11/15 (2) - What additional materials did they ask for?
 * Rutgers University, via email 11/8, 11/9, 11/19 - which position? (2)
 * Texas Christian, via email, 11/29
 * University of Mary Washington (Assist. Prof. New Media), via email 11/13 (2) 11/13
 * UCLA (Assist or Assoc Prof, New Media/English), via email 11/14 (2)
 * UCSD-TV Studies via email 12/9 (3)
 * University of Washington, Seattle, Assistant South Asian Cinema. Writing sample requested via e-mail around 11/10.
 * University of North Florida, Film Studies. Teaching philosophy statement and writing sample requested via email 11/16
 * Ursinus College (Assistant Professor of Film Studies), via email 11/10
 * Westminster College {Utah} (Film Studies), via email 11/15

Request for Interview (please specify date and type: MLA, SCMS, phone, other)
Is this the American Studies job at Pratt or was this job film-specific? The deadlines don't match (AM Studies was Nov 1--this here seems to be 11/23-ish)
 * Bentley College (Media Studies) - phone interview 12/7
 * Bryn Mawr (English and Film Studies) - set up MLA via phone/email 12/14
 * Colby College (MLA - 12/12)
 * College of Staten Island - phone interview scheduled for January
 * Columbia College, Chicago Called to set up phone interview 11/20 (2)
 * DePaul University Chicago (Assistant Media and Cinema Studies) Phone interviews have taken place. (thanks!)
 * Edinboro College of PA (phone 3/16)
 * Eugene Lang /New School contact on 2/4 for SCMS interview (4) Seems sort of late, but I see they are also searching for a chair.
 * Florida State - interview scheduled for MLA (12/5);(3)
 * George Mason (Cultural Studies) - phone (12/7)
 * Grinnell College (Assistant, Film History & Theory) (MLA, 12/10) (3)
 * Gustavus Adolphus College - MLA (invited via phone 12/13)
 * Hendrix College (for MLA - 12/4)
 * Keene State College (phone 2/20)
 * Lake Forest College (at NCA)
 * Lehigh University - phone interview on 12/5
 * Ohio University - (campus interview) 2/15 first contact/ notification
 * Pratt Institute, phone interview set up via email for 12/ 7 Wow, fast committee response, less than two weeks after a deadline and those two weeks included a holiday.


 * Rhodes College (Film Studies)- MLA (12/12)
 * Texas A&M U (Gender & Film Studies) MLA (11/30) (3)
 * Trinity College (Film Studies) campus interview (2/26)
 * University of Colorado, Boulder (MLA, 12/10)
 * University of Hartford (SCMS 3/4)
 * University of North Florida MLA, with campus visits for three candidates (btw, very nice people in their dept.)
 * University of Rhode Island (SCMS) date of request?
 * University of San Diego (at NCA - 11/16)
 * UT Dallas - Phone interviews for film studies are taking place in the first two weeks of Feb. Do not know anything about emerging media. (1/22) (see: http://wikihost.org/wikis/academe/wiki/film_media_studies)
 * University of Toronto (Fr/Assistant Prof -- phone interview on 12/14) -- HAS ANYONE HAD A CAMPUS VISIT CALLBACK?


 * University of Washington, Seattle, Assistant South Asian Cinema - interview scheduled for MLA (12/4)--apparently, job has been offered and accepted (2/15)
 * University of Wisconsin Osh Kosh (at NCA; phone interviews week of 12/10) What did you think of these folks. They were a bit negative about their students, but otherwise seemed nice.
 * UW Tacoma-phone interviews completed--references being called to narrow shortlist to 3
 * UCLA (MLA, 12/14 by email)
 * Washington University, St Louis - 2yr. Interview request for SCMS (2/29) (5)
 * Wellesley College (postdoc media and film studies)--(Request for meeting at SCMS received by e-mail on 2/24)
 * Westminster College (at MLA, 12/5)
 * Wheaton College (World Cinema)- MLA (12/12)
 * Wofford College (Film studies, English dept), MLA (12/17)
 * Virginia Commonwealth - Cultural Studies/ Media Studies emailed for phone interview on 2/21, they said 280 people applied. Q: Did they indicate how many they would be interviewing, if this is a rolling situation, that sort of thing? A: It was not clear. I am sure my turning down a slot (off the market by then) opened up at least one slot though. I don't think it would be horrible to just email Catherine Ingrassia to ask status, she seemed very nice.
 * Brandeis Digital Humanities Postdoc, (MLA, 12/12)(2)

General Questions and Discussion
Any updates on Bard College? Heard they've asked at least one candidate for an interview.

Has anyone heard anything from Northwestern? The call was for Associate or Assistant tenure-track with emphasis on race, sex and nation in media studies/screen cultures (to answer the "details" question above). The deadline was Dec 15 and still no word; tried to contact the search chair who seems to be on leave this semester and not responding to emails. Now I see two profs from that dept will be on job search workshop at SCMS, yet no one in their own dept seems to be responding to the applicants for their own job search--or maybe my rejection got lost in the mail?<br

I don't know if they hired anyone, or have had interviews yet. But the last two assistant profs hired by that program left the academy after a couple years at Northwestern U. Which may or may not reflect on the program.

Heard via email that the search is ongoing, though slow, and they (NW) will be updating folks soonish. I've heard 2nd hand that they've (Northwestern) started job talks for both positions. (3/3)

Got a Northwestern rejection letter---claimed they had over 200 applications (3/3). Has anyone heard if they are interviewing only associate profs for the position?

They have a visiting prof from an Ivy that may be in a good spot to get an offer. Given their track record with hiring people who leave the academy, they may want to go with someone more advanced in their career.

Has anyone heard a peep from the University of Virginia? - I didn't even get an acknowledgment that my application was received... See above. I received an acknowledgment only because I e-mailed for an update on the position in early January, when I was told the committee had yet to meet.

Hear this offer went to 2 people (possible a couple?)

- Has anyone heard from University of Chicago or Northwestern University? York University?
 * University of Chicago has chosen 3 candidates for job talks. Those candidates should hear very shortly (2/6).

- Has anyone heard anything from Wesleyan's American Studies/Film studies job?? They asked for a SASE postcard and I haven't even gotten that back. Delivery confirmation tells me that they did receive materials but have heard nothing at all. (2)-I haven't gotten my SASE back either. (4), same situation, sent them an email last week, have heard nothing. their admin assistant is very nice about updates. A. Got an ack letter today: "The search committee expects to review the applications by the end of January 2008 and will contact you regarding our decision." For some reason, they didn't use the SASE I sent with my app. Huh. (arrived 12/8, dated 11/30) (2) ANY news here? Wesleyan committee met today, Jan 29. Italic text''According to this WIKI, campus visits and rejections have been sent? Does anyone have any further information???'' A: I would assume that if we haven't heard from them, we didn't make the shortlist. Closed, no appt. See Rejections List.

Bryn Mawr: My research tells me that Bryn Mawr has an excellent VAP though. Swarthmore hired their VAP last year. Not sure what that indicates, but one notices these things. I am sure Bryn Mawr will interview at MLA though, so someone should hear from them soon. Question: Is this job crosslisted under 20th/21st Century American (which reports an MLA interview scheduled), or is that a different posting? A: I assume it's the film/lit job that's also cross-listed on 20th21th C Am Lit page. Anyone heard from Carleton or Fordham? I got an email for Carleton that they plan to do interviews in January- so I assume I am out of the running, since it is January and I have heard nothing. See above (Campus Visits Scheduled) re: Fordham Carleton College wrote to tell me they were doing on campus interviews in Jan, but I did not get invited, nor has anyone I know, so I don't know if they really did this. They have been back in session since early Jan. though. (RESPONSE) They did do interviews. They brought in three candidates. I was one of them. They are looking for someone with strong production skills and less media studies. Seems like a nice place. 1/2008 What about UT-Dallas or Hofstra? Georgetown - Culture and Politics (saw it on MLA wiki)--May I ask where you saw this? I see one Georgetown visit scheduled in the "composition and rhetoric" category, but it's unclear if this is SFS.

There was some long conversation on the MLA site and someone said GT had started on campus interviews for the position--but please only take that for what it is worth-I did NOT get this from, say a friend with an interview

I received a rejection letter that confirms this information (that SFS is brining candidates to campus.)

Anybody heard from Gustavus Adolphus? (2/5) A: Campus visit scheduled 2/8

Did anyone get an interview for the Washington U (in St. Louis) TT job? Because their website is touting the hiring of Gaylyn Studlar....A: That is very interesting. In the "rejections" section I posted that WU recently listed a lecturer position in film studies on SCMS. I wonder if they decided to split the film studies teaching load up between Prof. Studlar and the lecturer to offer GS a lighter teaching load?

''2/13: Anyone hear anything about Ursinus? I know they had interviews, but has anyone received an offer?'' See above. I received a rejection letter via email today (3/4) stating my file was still under consideration til now, so it seems that they did not send out rejection letters to their shortlisted candidates until their first choice accepted the position.

2/18 Any news re: the U of Chicago position? --U Chicago has invited 3 candidates to give job talks, over the next 2 weeks. 2/20

2/19 Any updates UCLA Film History, open rank? MLA site lists deadline extended to 1/25 or until position filled. Yes - campus visits scheduled Any word about candidates? (research area, PhD affiliation?) 2 post-docs (one might be an ABD (Harvard ABD, UPenn,...?) Update = also 2 senior scholars (and former UCLA students): Eric Smoodin & Lea Jacobs. Interesting and telling . . . "Telling" - How so? A: New person here (so I can't speak with certainty to previous posters "Telling"), but hiring your own (UG or G) is seen not only as nepotistic, but also incestuous by most of the academy. Oddly, the major exceptions seem to be the elites, which once was was true of European ruling houses as well. It can also be seen as a sign that a program is faltering because its graduates can't get hired anywhere else.Obviously, not the case here, since both Smoodin and Jacobs have tenure elsewhere. Right. I was referring to why programs don't hire their recent graduates. -My point by using 'telling' was merely to comment on how the search committee views 'film history.' Smoodin and Jacobs are fine scholars with a strong empirical and archival approach to their work (as oppose to, say, scholars whose work is more focused on historiography and/or theories of the archive). 'Telling,' in short, was not meant as a slight (2/29/08). "Nepotistic" seems like a fair issue to raise here---certainly "insular" --they're going VERY senior, and VERY junior--splitting the difference.