Specialty topics include, but not limited to:

• Conspiracy theories
• Media ethics
• Violence in entertainment
• Social media, advertising & new media

Background

Barna Donovan, the acclaimed author of three books on film and audiences, is a graduate of the film school of the University of Miami and he earned his doctorate from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. His book on action-film fandom, Blood, Guns, and Testosterone: Action Films, Audiences, and a Thirst for Violence was called a “fascinating book [that] makes a substantial contribution to our knowledge and understanding of audiences” by Participations: The Journal of Audience and Reception Studies. He is also the author of Conspiracy Films: A Tour of Dark Places in the American Conscious and The Asian Influence on Hollywood Action Films. His commentaries on conspiracy theories, popular culture, and film have been quoted in media like the BBC, The Buddy Cianci Show, Yahoo News, Kidult.com, MSNBC, CBS News, LiveScience and in various publications from Europe to Latin America.

Dr. Donovan started teaching for Saint Peter’s University in 2002 and served as the director of the communication program. He has been the chair of the communication department since 2005. Among the courses he teaches are the conspiracy theory film, the horror film, the science fiction film, asian films, ethics in communication and media business.