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Associate Professor, School of Theatre, Film and Television

Dr. Barbara Selznick's research examines the connections between film, television, and art including the business, social, and cultural contexts in which they are created. In addition to teaching, she has authored and contributed to books, anthologies and articles on the topic. 

Dr Selznick course roster includes: 

• Screen Narratives: Narratives about History (FTV 460)

• Issues in Film and Television Industries: Television Platforms and Programming (FTV 434)

• Intro to Film and Television Industries (FTV 270)

• U.S. Film and Television Now (FTV 370)

Where did you grow up, and where do you call home today?

I grew up in New York, just outside of New York City. Now, Tucson is home.

What are you working on that excites you?

I'm excited about a book I’m working on titled TV’s American Dream: U.S. Television After the Great Recession. Shows like Daredevil, Atlanta, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Mr. Robot, and even Hallmark movies represent ideas about the American Dream, a myth that’s both incredibly amorphous and foundational to our understanding of who we are as a nation.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

Raising children. Being responsible for other human beings and trying to launch them into the world as caring, strong, useful, happy people is terrifying. Both my children are young adults now, and I couldn’t be prouder of who they are. Despite all my mistakes, they’re amazing.

Name a value that is important to you.

Sympathy is so important. I know many people believe empathy, the ability to feel someone else’s hurt, is more meaningful. But it’s also essential to acknowledge and respect someone’s pain even if you don’t or can’t put yourself in their shoes. This lets us show compassion for other people’s experiences, even if we can’t imagine what it might feel like. And then, hopefully, take the next step of trying to help them.

Do you have a unique hobby, talent, or collection?

I like to crochet. I learned during COVID. I’m not particularly great at it but everyone in my family has a blanket, a scarf, and a hat. In fact, they probably have more than one. I’m pretty sure they wish I’d find a new hobby.

Students can be afraid of failing. Do you have advice for those who struggle with it? 

It’s not just students who are afraid of failing. We’re all afraid of it. It gets easier when you’ve had more practice. Some of my biggest failures have redirected me to where I am now, with a life I love. I didn’t get into the university I wanted to go to, so I went somewhere else and made great friends. I realized after I got my first job that I didn’t like the work my major prepared me for, so I went back to grad school and discovered film and television studies. I didn’t get a permanent job after I got my PhD, so I ended up doing a visiting professor job that led me to the University of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, where I got a permanent position and met my husband. Sometimes, what seems like a failure is a wonderful opportunity. And sometimes failure hurts, and you have to shake it off and step on it.

What advice would you offer to a first-year Wildcat?

My advice is somewhat unfair because it’s so hard when you’re going through it but try not to worry so much about the future. It will happen one way or the other. When presented with opportunities – about classes, internships, jobs, housing, travel, whatever – it’s tempting to get caught up in trying to figure out how your choices will fit into some big picture of your life; will it ultimately make you happy? But that can get exhausting. Try using the existing information you have for your current situation and make the best decision you can right now. If you do that, it will lead you down a path that you can then continue on or shift as you go. Trying to guess what will be best for you five or ten years from now doesn’t take into consideration all the growing and changing you’re going to do as you have new experiences.

Looking for a university where passionate, expert-faculty illuminate the world around us, challenging their students to make the most of every opportunity? Become a Wildcat. 

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