Stephen C. Shafer

Dr. Shafer earned his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, where he earned a total of five degrees. He has been teaching and developing courses on film and history at the University of Illinois since the mid 1970s, in both the Department of History and in Cinema Studies. With a background in interdisciplinary studies, Dr. Shafer has published on film, history, and popular culture in such journals as THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL QUARTERLY and the INTERNATIONAL LABOR AND WORKING CLASS HISTORY, and his articles have appeared in the British Film Institute's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BRITISH FILM and the Grolier ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE VICTORIAN ERA. His essays also have appeared in GOING MY WAY: BING CROSBY IN AMERICAN CULTURE and in SPLENDIDLY VICTORIAN: ESSAYS IN HONOR OF WALTER ARNSTEIN. He has spoken on film and history at numerous academic meetings such as the Midwest Conference on British Studies and the Popular Culture Association's National Conference, Shafer's research interests have included the film industry during the Great Depression, British films and the working classes, and musicals, on both the stage and screen. He is especially interested in the transition of the film industry and its output during the years from the silent to the sound era. His interest in film preservation has led him to be a frequent attendee at film festivals and meetings devoted to film history and film preservation. Shafer has served as President of the University of Illinois Film Society. In 2008 he retired from his position as Assistant Dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences where, in addition to teaching film and history, he also served for 25 years as the campus Prelaw Advisor, Since 2008, he has continued to teach on occasion his courses in the College of Media.