Andrew Selepak Comments on Curriculum Changes Due to the #MeToo Movement

Andrew Selepak, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications director of the online Master’s program in social media, was quoted in “How Do You Teach a Bad Man’s Good Art?,” published in Dame Magazine on May 18.

The article focuses on how the #MeToo movement has left professors struggling to replace references to pop culture icons who have fallen from grace with similar works made by people with less troubled pasts. And professors are forced to explain that deleting these references from the conversation doesn’t mean they will disappear from cultural history.

In one of Selepak’s courses, he replaced an image of Kevin Spacey, who has been accused of assaulting young boys,in House of Cards with Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to illustrate an example of a character breaking the fourth wall—talking directly to the audience.  Selepak adds that in addition to the marches, hashtagging, and thesis-paper topics that have been exploding on college campuses in response to the #MeToo movement, perhaps students will also start protesting with their pocketbooks. He points out that his students—the youngest of whom were born in 2000—may not have recognized the names Harvey Weinstein or Kevin Spacey before now.

“What is needed beyond awareness is action,” Selepak says. “We will soon see what the effects of the movement truly are depending on whether those who engaged in acts of harassment and assault are eventually allowed to restart their careers and see no repercussions for their actions other than a temporary dismissal from the spotlight.”

Posted: May 22, 2018
Category: Alumni News, College News
Tagged as: #MeToo, Andrew Selepak, Dame Magazine