This was one of those weeks in the academic year that I enjoy the most-- falling just after the crazed pace of midterms and before the new avalanche of year-end papers and projects. It is a time that provides enough pause to check in with students to see how their semester is progressing, while allowing for some productive reflection on what has and has not worked thus far in the term. This year I have been leading a wonderful seminar class titled "Film and the City," that has provided an opportunity to go back and re-visit some fantastic films that find new resonance for today's students through their form and content-- films such as Agnes Varda's Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962), Wong Kar-wai's Chungking Express (1996), and Jennie Livingston's Paris is Burning (1990). I am reminded every time I teach an iteration of this course how powerfully the visual language and associations of specific urban spaces are communicated through and shaped by film culture. It is also uncanny how seamlessly some of these themes and ideas translate to new audiences, sometimes half a century later....

And some great news this week-- I was granted my Educational Leave for the 2017/18 academic year beginning this fall! The entire process of planning, assembling, and presenting my course of research and plans for the sabbatical was quite a challenge, and I am now looking forward to the opportunity to complete some in-process projects and get a few new ones off the ground. Feeling grateful and very excited for the months and year ahead.