BYU Theatre and Media Arts Professor Jonathan Ventura Shares How He Connects Faith and Film
In a rapidly changing world with rapidly changing media, Theatre and Media Arts professor Jonathan Ventura focuses on what matters most. Ventura graduated from BYU Theatre and Media Arts with an emphasis in critical studies, completed his master's in cinema studies at NYU and earned a PhD in moving image studies from GSU. He returned to teach at BYU because he loved his experience as an undergrad. Bringing his unique talents and perspectives, he encourages his students to continue learning, always connecting the gospel of Jesus Christ to their academic endeavors.
Q: What excites you most about your field?
Ventura: The media landscape is changing so rapidly there is always something new to study. Whether it's shifting patterns of television consumption, different methods of film production and distribution or even new avenues for fan engagement, there are opportunities for creators and scholars alike to engage with so many different approaches to film and television.
Q: Are there any current projects or research initiatives that you're especially passionate about?
Ventura: My current research focuses on class representation in Brazilian television. More specifically I've been researching the intersection of class representation, technology and citizenship in Brazil.
Q: Is there a specific work or practitioner in your field that has had a particularly strong influence on you?
Ventura: As a teenager, I remember watching The Truman Show in the theater and being completely blown away. It was so different from the other summer blockbusters I would usually watch and it got me hooked on wanting to study film.
Q: What courses are you teaching this fall and what do you enjoy about them?
Ventura: In Fall 2025 I'll be teaching Intro to Film (TMA 102) and Media Arts Theory (TMA 391). With Intro to Film, I love helping students see how a filmmaker's choices create meaning. It's always fun to see students discover how the intentionality of camera angles, lighting, editing choices and so on influences their own engagement with a film or show.
With Media Arts Theory, I enjoy making connections between the historical contexts of different theories and applying those same theories to more contemporary media. So in class we might look at a video game, television show or even a YouTube video to see how theories may or may not apply. We'll address questions like: What still holds up? What doesn't? What needs to be updated and why?
Q: What advice would you give to students starting out in your field?
Ventura: Take responsibility for your own learning. Start a journal of everything you watch and read, and make a list of things that you want to watch or read. If a filmmaker, scholar or theory is mentioned in class and you don't know who or what it is, write it down to research it later. With everything you watch, try to view it on different levels and not just assign a "thumbs up/thumbs down" kind of rating. What was the social context of the film? How does the film relate to other works from the same time period, region or filmmaker? How did this movie/book/show make me feel? Why?
Q: If you could invite one guest speaker from the media arts/film/theater world to join your class for the day, who would it be and why?
Ventura: I would love to have the cinematographer Roger Deakins join class for the day. He not only has an impressive filmography, but he also has a genuine love for the artistry of film. He also speaks about his craft in an engaging way.
Q: What do you hope students take away from your classes?
Ventura: I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I enjoy finding connections between my field of study and the gospel. I hope students are able to find similar connections in their own creative or scholarly work. With each of my classes, I want students to feel like they have been both challenged intellectually and strengthened spiritually.