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U.Va. art professor talks Disney research in PBS documentary

Higginbotham says never-before-seen footage offers unique point of view

University Teaching Fellow 2008 According to Art Department chairman Larry Goedde, since arriving at the University in 2005, Carmenita Higginbotham has proved to be an excellent educator and capable colleague, in both the Art Department and American Studies program. "She has demonstrated a striking commitment to her teaching, marked by a willingness to engage students extensively outside class and an intense focus on finding ways of improving her teaching," Goedde said. As a University Teaching Fellow, Higginbotham said she hopes to develop an art history course called "Race, Identity and Contemporary Culture," which "examines the role popular culture has played in constructing racial identities in the late 20th century." Through the program, she hopes to learn how to further engage students and inspire them to think critically about race and culture. Higginbotham is capable of achieving that goal, Goedde said, as "she brings to her courses intensity and thoughtfulness, an ability to engage major issues of race in art, while also letting students see such subjects within the larger contexts of American art, culture and society."
University Teaching Fellow 2008 According to Art Department chairman Larry Goedde, since arriving at the University in 2005, Carmenita Higginbotham has proved to be an excellent educator and capable colleague, in both the Art Department and American Studies program. "She has demonstrated a striking commitment to her teaching, marked by a willingness to engage students extensively outside class and an intense focus on finding ways of improving her teaching," Goedde said. As a University Teaching Fellow, Higginbotham said she hopes to develop an art history course called "Race, Identity and Contemporary Culture," which "examines the role popular culture has played in constructing racial identities in the late 20th century." Through the program, she hopes to learn how to further engage students and inspire them to think critically about race and culture. Higginbotham is capable of achieving that goal, Goedde said, as "she brings to her courses intensity and thoughtfulness, an ability to engage major issues of race in art, while also letting students see such subjects within the larger contexts of American art, culture and society."

A PBS documentary about the life of Walt Disney that premiered Monday night featured commentary from Carmenita Higginbotham, associate professor in the McIntire Department of Art.

Higginbotham has studied Disney extensively and teaches the course “The Art of Disney.”

Her interest in Disney, she said, began when she took a class during her time as an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota.

“It was interesting but I didn’t take it too seriously,” Higginbotham said.

When she joined the American Studies faculty at the University, they were looking for some different classes on unique topics.

“I recalled my time at Minnesota and thought it would be a good topic to revive,” Higginbotham said.

Part of what made this project unique was the unprecedented access to never-before-seen footage from Disney, Higginbotham said. In the past, independent projects have had difficulty gaining access to this kind of material.

“Disney keeps tight control over its own history and it can be very difficult to break through,” Higginbotham said. “There is footage that has never been seen outside of the Disney studio.”

The project is part of the American Experience series, which is known for its features on great men in history.

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