Zachary Sheldon
@zsheldonphd.bsky.social
Lecturer at Baylor FDM; PhD in Communication from Texas A&M | teaching and studying film, communication, religion, and media | reading a lot, usually
https://zacharysheldon.substack.com/
https://zacharysheldon.substack.com/
I always forget about Jimmi Simpson being in House of Cards, but his role really is one of the best weird side characters
December 24, 2025 at 3:22 AM
I always forget about Jimmi Simpson being in House of Cards, but his role really is one of the best weird side characters
Grades are in, the semester is *over*
December 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Grades are in, the semester is *over*
Final week of Religion and Film and we covered televangelism and religious satire...some tragedy in here, but also some comedy, which helps!
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
Faith Ba$ed (2020) and The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)
Or, Religion and Film, Week Fifteen
open.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Final week of Religion and Film and we covered televangelism and religious satire...some tragedy in here, but also some comedy, which helps!
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
I don't know how it happened, and I don't want to jinx myself or anything, but...I'm actually caught up with grading for right now...
December 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I don't know how it happened, and I don't want to jinx myself or anything, but...I'm actually caught up with grading for right now...
Spending my day bouncing between grading for all my different classes...maybe I shouldn't have left so much til the end (though some of it was unavoidable). At the same time, though, it's awesome seeing so many different forms of progress and students exploring so many ideas.
December 10, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Spending my day bouncing between grading for all my different classes...maybe I shouldn't have left so much til the end (though some of it was unavoidable). At the same time, though, it's awesome seeing so many different forms of progress and students exploring so many ideas.
Hey, new publication out! Pleased and proud to have this historical/media ecological look at how the intersection of emergent home media and a feminine rhetorical style contributed to the fame, reach, and making of Beth Moore's career and reputation.
December 9, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Hey, new publication out! Pleased and proud to have this historical/media ecological look at how the intersection of emergent home media and a feminine rhetorical style contributed to the fame, reach, and making of Beth Moore's career and reputation.
Last week my Religion and Film class did two films called "The Mission" to think through the complicated reality of missions work and what that means or looks like in the twenty-first century: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
The Mission (1986) and The Mission (2023)
Or, Religion and Film, Week Fourteen
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Last week my Religion and Film class did two films called "The Mission" to think through the complicated reality of missions work and what that means or looks like in the twenty-first century: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
Everything I read in November. The fiction was all a lot more fun this month. Most of the non-fiction was at least alright, but the horror fiction I read for this month was just superb all around.
December 2, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Everything I read in November. The fiction was all a lot more fun this month. Most of the non-fiction was at least alright, but the horror fiction I read for this month was just superb all around.
Is it lame to consider notification of an article acceptance a birthday present? Maybe, but I’m ok with it.
December 1, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Is it lame to consider notification of an article acceptance a birthday present? Maybe, but I’m ok with it.
Contemplating becoming a hardcore IMDb user in deliberate opposition to my students always trying to force me to use Letterboxd. Feels appropriately contrarian and pointless, which is right in my lane.
November 29, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Contemplating becoming a hardcore IMDb user in deliberate opposition to my students always trying to force me to use Letterboxd. Feels appropriately contrarian and pointless, which is right in my lane.
Starting the holidays off right: with the entire family having strep
November 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Starting the holidays off right: with the entire family having strep
The beginning of Thanksgiving break is absolutely the best time for both our children to develop fevers, yes, totally, 1000%, no complaints, no notes, it's great!
We've all successfully avoided illness basically all year, tbh, so I can't really complain, though.
We've all successfully avoided illness basically all year, tbh, so I can't really complain, though.
a man with his eyes closed says it 's fine , im fine , everything is fine
ALT: a man with his eyes closed says it 's fine , im fine , everything is fine
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:57 AM
The beginning of Thanksgiving break is absolutely the best time for both our children to develop fevers, yes, totally, 1000%, no complaints, no notes, it's great!
We've all successfully avoided illness basically all year, tbh, so I can't really complain, though.
We've all successfully avoided illness basically all year, tbh, so I can't really complain, though.
It's been quite a while since I've posted here, but might as well start somewhere: I've been writing about the screenings for my Religion and Film class this semester.
This week, we took on religions violence in a variety of forms:
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
This week, we took on religions violence in a variety of forms:
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
The Passion of the Christ (2004) and First Reformed (2017)
Or, Religion and Film, Week Twelve
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:35 AM
It's been quite a while since I've posted here, but might as well start somewhere: I've been writing about the screenings for my Religion and Film class this semester.
This week, we took on religions violence in a variety of forms:
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
This week, we took on religions violence in a variety of forms:
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
It's horror week in my film classes! open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
April 3, 2024 at 3:39 PM
It's horror week in my film classes! open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
What We're Watching in Class, Week Ten
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
March 28, 2024 at 1:52 PM
What We're Watching in Class, Week Ten
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
I love almost all of the movies I get to show in class, but this week's films are especially fun: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
March 20, 2024 at 12:25 AM
I love almost all of the movies I get to show in class, but this week's films are especially fun: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
A bit later in the week again, but oh well: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
March 16, 2024 at 3:09 AM
A bit later in the week again, but oh well: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
A week late, but what can you do: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
March 5, 2024 at 4:31 PM
A week late, but what can you do: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
What We're Watching In Class, Week Six: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
February 20, 2024 at 7:25 PM
What We're Watching In Class, Week Six: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
This week's film screenings: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
February 6, 2024 at 5:28 PM
This week's film screenings: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
A day later than I usually post, but, hey, life is busy. Anyways, here's my weekly newsletter about what we're watching in class this week!
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
January 31, 2024 at 4:56 PM
A day later than I usually post, but, hey, life is busy. Anyways, here's my weekly newsletter about what we're watching in class this week!
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
Latest newsletter about what I'm screening in my film courses this week!
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
January 23, 2024 at 5:26 PM
Latest newsletter about what I'm screening in my film courses this week!
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
Most recent addition to the office collection
January 19, 2024 at 3:16 PM
Most recent addition to the office collection
Had a student tell me tonight that La La Land is "pretty good for an older movie"
January 17, 2024 at 3:47 AM
Had a student tell me tonight that La La Land is "pretty good for an older movie"
New newsletter post for the week: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...
January 16, 2024 at 5:37 PM
New newsletter post for the week: open.substack.com/pub/zacharys...