Matthew Cowin, Staff Writer
Joining the Sewanee community in 2009, Dr. Jeffrey Thompson has served as an associate professor of Art History and Director of the Film Studies department. Prior to his arrival, he studied English at Birmingham-Southern College and went on to earn an M.A. in Cinema Studies at New York University in 1995 and a Ph.D. in Art History from Emory University in 2006. A senior year film history course at BSC and post-graduate work for an Atlanta film company led to his higher education and intersection of art and cinema. In the interview, Thompson details his upbringing and the role of this intersection in the Sewanee classroom.
Early Life/College
Thompson first details his early years in Atlanta and experiences at BSC: “During high school, I lived in the Atlanta area. Sewanee was an option in my college-decision process, but it felt very rural, so I settled on BSC in an urban environment.” He next positions the heavy importance of a film-history class in jumpstarting his future career. “I was well into my English major, but the film history class sat with me in a special way in terms of what I wanted to do. This led to my two-year work experience at an Atlanta film company before beginning graduate school.” For graduate school, Thompson left the South and ventured to form new experiences in New York City.
Graduate School
Upon arrival, Thompson began his graduate studies at New York University in addition to part-time work at the Museum of Modern Art: “After sending in my portfolio and application, I somehow got into the cinema program. My part-time experience at the MOMA film department led to my interest in Art History and specifically, the art of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.”
Upon completion of his M.A. degree, Thompson eventually returned to Atlanta for his Ph.D. in Art History at Emory University. “After living in New York for many years, I was happy to return and earn my doctorate degree as a major goal. After my Ph.D., I began teaching stints at Wake Forest University and in Michigan before landing my current job at Sewanee,” said Thompson. He next detailed his deep appreciation for the Sewanee community and encountering various ideas and perspectives across the college.
Time at Sewanee
Reflecting on his early days as a Sewanee professor, Thompson credited the faculty community and the benefits of relationships. “The faculty as a whole,both in my department and other fields, served as mentors that helped me find my footing. One great benefit was my collaboration with faculty of other disciplines, particularly through the humanities program,” said Thompson.
Associate professor of Art History Alison Miller praised his work at the University and new art forgery course this semester. “Dr. Thompson brings a great intellectual curiosity to both the art history department and the broader university, which shows through in his consistently popular and innovative courses, such as this semester’s Art Theft and Forgery,” said Miller.
Thompson’s own curriculum also covers global artworks across numerous historical periods. “I have the freedom to incorporate areas of my interest that mainly cover North American, European, and Latin American art along with cinema. This spans from Earth artists of the late 1960s, Alfred Hitchcock films in 1970s Hollywood, and even creative works of art in Weimar Germany before WWII,” recounted Thompson. Lastly, Thompson detailed the importance of student voices that allows for a dynamic classroom environment.
Appreciation of Students and Career
On the domain, Thompson remains passionately dedicated to the studies of his beloved profession: “In my studies, I have some favorite works. These include Cut with the Kitchen Knife by Hannah Hoch [pre-printed photographs that convey the political/social conditions of Post-WWI Germany] and Graffiti Truck by Gordon Matta-Clark [who, in 1973, allowed people to spray paint his truck outside the more formal art gallery in the Bronx].”
“I’m grateful for my job and always enjoy my students. They will have ‘lightbulb moments’ where something clicks with them and they will surprise you with the way they put ideas together in such a way that you don’t anticipate,” said Thompson. Thompson credits the influence of active student voices that allows for a thorough education. At Sewanee, he continues his lifelong passion for art and cinema with a deep appreciation for the university community.