The Buccaneer

Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: Campus Life

Media Credit: Andrew Biasotti Bruce Hattendorf has taught English and Film at Peninsula College for 10 years.

The lights vanish. Darkness engulfs students plopped down in swivel chairs to watch Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo." In front of the lecture hall, English and Film Professor Bruce Hattendorf gives instructions for deciphering this suspense film. His excitement for teaching is evident in his explanations. "Bruce is as passionate about teaching Fundamentals of English Composition as he is about teaching his specialty of film. He is a professor, a screenwriter, a poet, an actor, a radio announcer and a leader" said Dr. Jann Gardner, head of the English Department.
Fellow English professor Dr. Matt Teorey co-taught two classes with Hattendorf that paired literature and film studies. "Bruce's creativity and dedication to the student's success makes him a great teacher, but it is his quick wit and his courage to experiment in the classroom that makes teaching with him a lot of fun," Teorey said.
In the classroom, Hattendorf's deep voice can be heard encouraging students as they write a research paper or a television script. "The best thing about Bruce is his willingness to work individually with students and understand their talents. He's got the ability to relate to each student. He's hilarious and knowledgeable in many areas," said Todd Capetta, a scriptwriting student.
When listening to Hattendorf lecture, it's not hard to see that he loves what he does. "Bruce takes something he is passionate about and makes the rest of us excited about it. He makes us enjoy learning and that kind of enthusiasm is contagious," student Abby Latson said.
Hattendorf has learned a lot from his students over the years.
"In composition classes, I let students choose their own research topics. They sometimes choose things I don't know much about, and its fun for me to find out about a new topic or new issue through working with them on the paper, whether it's recycling in Japan, Makah culture, or punk rock," Hattendorf said.
With film and literature classes, students often will make interpretations about the readings or film that he had never thought of.
Hattendorf said he knew he wanted to be a teacher from the time he was in high school. After graduating from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature with a focus on Film Studies, Hattendorf headed to San Francisco where he lived for three years. His part time jobs ranged from interning with Chronicle Books to a clerk at Star Magic, a new age hippy crystal store.

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