This paper discusses the instructional strategies used in designing an undergraduate seminar on Buddhism and film that bridges disciplinary boundaries and takes advantage of the institutional strength in Film Studies at UNC-Wilmington. The seminar adopts a thematic approach to the study of Buddhism and film, paying attention to how Buddhist worldviews are expressed through the medium of film in a range of nations, including China, India, Japan, Tibet, and the United States. However, it also brings together the disciplines of Buddhist Studies and Film Studies to examine how one might use film to study Buddhism and how one might use Buddhism to study film. Instead of using film as a transparent lens for viewing Buddhism, it takes the medium seriously: it has students grapple with the particular challenges and opportunities afforded by film.
