Professors Nichols & Schenning Present Papers At Communications Conference

Dr. Randy D. Nichols, Associate Professor of English and Communication, and Brett Schenning, Preceptor of Art and Interdisciplinary Studies, recently presented papers at the Carolinas Communication Association Conference at Queens University of Charlotte on September 28.

Both Limestone Professors used the FX spy series “The Americans” as an artifact of their research.

Nichols presented on “The Gadget Lover and The Americans,” where he discussed the tensions inherent in the coming of the Digital Age – for example, the tension between technophobia and the draw to be a “gadget lover,” the interplay of personal vs. digital in espionage, and the unprecedented changes new media brings to the modern American experience.

Schenning presented his paper “Visual Tropes as Communication Devices in The Americans,” where he discussed specific instances throughout “The Americans” where the visual genre tropes of “neo-noir” communicate ideas beyond dialogue, and echo similar visual communication from art history. The visual styles utilized in the series affectively delve into the psychological states of the characters and their shared ordeal were addressed.

Nichols and Schenning plan to continue to develop and expand this project for the Popular Culture Conference in Washington, DC in the spring of 2019.