MVC Professor Releases New Monograph

Missouri Valley College Assistant Professor of English Dr. Debbie Olson recently released her new monograph entitled “Black Children in Hollywood Cinema.” The monograph, which is a detailed written study of a single specialized subject, focuses on the cinematic absence of black children from contemporary Hollywood film, including different elements of the child found within film.

“One of the goals of this study is to raise awareness about the lack of representation of children of color in mainstream films for and about children,” Dr. Olson said. “Hollywood films tend to imagine childhood in limiting ways—both visually and ideologically—and when they do feature a child of color, that child is often placed in demeaning or stereotypical roles. Western media promotes a vision of childhood that does not leave much room for other, richer, more diverse stories about children.”

A reception will be held for the release of Dr. Olson’s monograph at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29 in the Murrell Library Reading Room on the Missouri Valley College campus. There will be a brief overview of the project by the author, an informal question and answer period and a monograph signing at the reception. Refreshments will be provided.

The monograph is available for purchase online at, https://www.amazon.com.