Andy Opel, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Media Production Area Head
Department of Communication

Dr. Andy Opel is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at Florida State University, teaching documentary video production and critical media studies. His research interests include environmental communication, alternative media and the emerging media and the democracy movement.

Teaching Interests

Teaching critical media studies and digital video production is a great opportunity to unite theory and practice. In a culture saturated with moving visual images, students’ familiarity with these texts often accompanies assumptions about how the images are created and what they “mean.” I enjoy helping students break down images into their technical and aesthetic components at the same time that I help them ask questions about the connotations associated with the choice of content and composition. more...

Research Interests

I am interested in the intersection of social movements and media. This includes a broad range of alternative media from community radio to the micro media of zines and street puppets and the emerging influence of blogs and indy-media websites. At the same time, I am interested in how these nontraditional venues influence and cross over into the commercial mainstream media and how media policy shapes this cross-fertilization. more...

Service

The privilege of working within a university brings with it the obligation to serve the public in tangible ways. My research agenda embodies my commitments to public service and I often compliment my scholarly writing with popular essays and public speaking in an attempt to translate academic ideas to a broader audience.

As the current Area Head of the Media Production Program, I have iniatiated a new Graduate Certificate in Digital Video. This certificate program is intended to provide the foundation skills of digital video production.

I am an active member of the International Communication Association, the National Communication Association, the Union for Democratic Communication and the Association of Independent Video and Film Makers. Please look for more detailed service information on my vita.