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Zachary Spaeth '14: "This trip allowed me to deepen
my understanding of these films." |
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Spaeth conducted research in Austria's
National Film Archive and National Library. |
7/9/12
A trip to Austria gave Randolph-Macon College student
Zachary Spaeth ’14 a whole new perspective on the importance of research.
As a participant in the Schapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship (
SURF) program, Spaeth is conducting a comparative analysis of American and German comedy films from the 1930s and ’40s. Under the guidance of
German Professor Joseph Moser, he is trying to find out why both film industries created comedic films while such horrific events were taking place in the world.
“The industries were similar in that they used the films for propaganda purposes,” says Spaeth, a German and
political science major who spent two weeks in Austria screening films at the National Film Archive and conducting research at the National Library.
Spaeth, who speaks German fluently, approached Moser earlier this year with an interest in conducting research on some aspect of German and American culture in and around World War II.
“I decided on comedy films because, although there is a lot of research done on propaganda films and documentaries, there has been very little done on the films that played in the 1930s and ’40s in everyone’s homes: comedies,” says Spaeth. “The trip—my first outside of the U.S.—allowed me to deepen my understanding of these films and see firsthand where they were filmed.”
“I was deeply impressed by the sophisticated connections Zachary made between some of these complex films, both given the difficult historical contexts and the fact that this was Zachary's first exposure to working in Austrian archives and libraries,” says Moser. “I learned a lot from working with him this summer.”
Spaeth, a Sellersville, Pennsylvania native, says the opportunity to travel and conduct research has enriched his R-MC experience.
“With SURF, I have taken on a whole new level of learning,” he says. “Conducting research, especially during the summer when I don’t have to focus on other classes, is a phenomenal experience.” Mentorship is also an important part of the SURF program.
“Professor Moser’s mentorship is amazing,” he says. “He is extremely knowledgeable about the films, actors, and history I am researching. Whenever I have a question, he is there to push me in the right direction, and he always hints at something new I should be looking for. I aspire to one day be a great researcher like him.” After graduation, Spaeth hopes to join the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and conduct research in Austria.
“I then want to earn a master’s degree in German— and eventually a Ph.D.,” he says.
In addition to his participation in the SURF program, Spaeth serves as Chair of the Academic Integrity Council, Sergeant at Arms of Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity, and Public Relations Chair of
Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
SURF was introduced in 1995 as an endowment to support scholarly undergraduate research by students in all disciplines. Students conduct 10 weeks of full-time, original research during the summer months, under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The initial gift for the program was made by Benjamin Schapiro ’64 and his wife Peggy.