Prof. Dr. Matthias Hurst Accepted into Prestigious European Academy for Sciences and the Arts (EASA)

Film Studies Professor Dr. Matthias Hurst has recently achieved a remarkable milestone by gaining acceptance into the European Academy for Sciences and the Arts (EASA). The European Academy for Sciences and the Arts is an institution that upholds high standards of academic excellence, and only elects new members by nomination from an existing member of the Academy. This prestigious nomination serves as a testament to Hurst’s prolific career as a film studies scholar.

EASA's emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking highlights the caliber of individuals it inducts, and reflects the interdisciplinary spirit that Hurst brings to film studies. “A film is not just a film: it's acting, it's art, it’s a study of themes and topics,” says Hurst. “Artists are inspired by many different things. They choose one medium, but the sources of the ideas are coming from very different backgrounds. It's the task of the scholar to discover and explore these different sources, and try to understand the work of art in the context of all the discourses that are important for the world today.” This approach opens up new perspectives, initiates interesting class discussions, and encourages students to view films as more than just cinematic works but as vehicles for exploring complex ideas and diverse cultural influences.

Hurst rejects the notion that profound messages can only be found in serious cinema. He finds it intriguing to dissect films from popular genres, like Science Fiction, Horror or Westerns—about which he has authored many papers—which may seem light-hearted on the surface but underneath contain important social commentary. “Of course, they're wrapped in entertaining adventure stories, but at the core, they have important things to say about our world today, our relation to politics, identity, resources, economy, colonization, and more.” 

Hurst suggests that it is vital to study popular culture to understand the messages it conveys and their impact on the public. “Let’s be honest, more people have seen Star Wars than have read Kant,” says Hurst. “From a sociological point of view, we should be aware that there is this huge influence that is popular culture and we should see what kind of messages are spread by popular films.” Hurst maintains that unearthing profound significance of a serious, classic film by the likes of Ingmar Bergman is relatively straightforward, “but it's sometimes more challenging, even more rewarding, to find something equally interesting in a film of a popular genre.”

Hurst's current research project explores the intricate relationship between diaries and film. “There's the idea of diary, which is complex, and how the structures of diary, the intentions of diary somehow conform or do not conform to film,” says Hurst. He is investigating various aspects of diaries in film, ranging from films based on famous diaries (like Anne Frank's), to those that adopt diary-like structures, as well as a subgenre of films titled "Diary of," which often denote a deep, intimate portrayal of events.

Given this innovative approach to film scholarship, Matthias Hurst's nomination into the European Academy for Sciences and the Arts is well-deserved. It reflects his remarkable contributions to film studies through interdisciplinary teaching, a profound belief in art's influence, and a commitment to inspiring the next generation of cinephiles to delve deeper into this art form.

Post Date: 10-18-2023