Ph.D., Communication, Ohio University, 1991
M.A., Communication, University of Dayton, 1988
B.A., Communication, Wright State University, 1986

Background

Assistant Professor at Trinity College of Vermont and Kean College of New Jersey, before coming to USU.

Research/Professional Activities

Cooper's primary teaching areas are in media and communication criticism, and gender and communication, having taught at Trinity College in Vermont and Kean College of New Jersey before joining the USU faculty in 1994. Her primary research area is in media criticism and gender, specializing in research on how women's autobiographies are translated into film. This research grew out of her dissertation, in which she examined how Isak Dinesen's autobiography was adapted to fit a Hollywood standard in the film version of "Out of Africa." She is expanding this theme through a grant to examine how three autobiographical books by women-"Postcards From the Edge" (Carrie Fisher), "Heartburn" (Nora Ephron), and "What's Love Got To Do With It?" (Tina Turner)-changed when they were made into movies. The results of this research will form the basis for a new course at USU entitled, "Translating Women's Literature into Film." Another area of research interest is examining how audiences understand and assign meanings to media messages. Cooper has analyzed viewers' responses to two films-"Out of Africa" and "Thelma and Louise"-and is undertaking other similar studies. Since coming to USU in 1994, Cooper has been awarded two grants from the university to support her research and course development efforts. She also works in research areas involving media representations of race, gender and sexual orientation, including an analysis of viewers' responses to Spike Lee's film "Do The Right Thing" and research on racial differences among students' reactions to Khallid Muhammad and the Nation of Islam controversy that began with Muhammad's speech on the Kean College campus in New Jersey in 1993. Cooper and Department Head Ted Pease are working on a textbook on media literacy called MEDIA SMARTS: MAKING SENSE OF THE INFORMATION AGE, due out in 1996 from Iowa State University Press. Cooper serves on the department Graduate Committee and is department liaison to the Merrill Library. She also is an active partner in the USU Women's Studies Program, which cross-lists many of her courses.

"I think it will be truly glorious when women become real people and have the whole world open before them." Isak Dinesen, 1923
Brenda Cooper

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