The fourth annual Penn State Anthropology Film Festival kicked off last night in 112 Chambers Building with the screening of the documentary “Spitting Game: The College Hook Up Culture .”
Filmmaker Denice Ann Evans introduced her film, which showcased the recent trend on college campuses for students to “hook up” with each other rather than to date each other.
The documentary featured interviews with college students and highlighted their attitudes towards drinking, doing drugs and peer pressure.
Evans also included interviews with parents of college students in the documentary to provide a different perspective on the college dating culture.
“There is a lot of denial going on,” Evans said. “There is a huge discrepancy between what parents consider to be the reality and what their children are actually doing.”
Evans stressed both in the documentary and in the discussion afterward that the combination of binge drinking and hooking up can be problematic.
It can be difficult, if not impossible, for implied consent to be given by two people before having sex if either individual is intoxicated, Evans said.
“The purpose of the documentary is not only to promote awareness, but also to [promote] reflection,” Evans said.
Sean Dooling, the vice president of the Committee for Anthropology Student Events, said that the discussion following the screening was thought provoking and was the best part of the evening.
“Discussion is how you can start to get to the root of the problem,” Dooling (sophomore-biological anthropology) said.
Dustin Starer, a resident of State College, said that he wished more people had shown up to the event because binge drinking is so prevalent on campus and more people should be involved in the discussion about it.
“I think it would have been good to hear an opposing viewpoint,” Starer said. “It would have been interesting to hear a more conservative opinion.”
The film festival will continue with a screenings of “The Virgin Daughters ” at 7 p.m. on March 21 in 112 Chambers Building and “Two Spirits ” also at 7 p.m. on March 28 in 201 Thomas Building .
