All-American quarterback, English major, self-proclaimed feminist, and film maker Russ Harbaugh is at it again. The versatile senior from Evansville will screen his third documentary film, Thy Loyal Sons, again Wednesday.
Harbaugh ignited a lively conversation on masculinity and Wabash as a college for men when he showed his second documentary film, Beside Myself. Beside Myself was a 30-minute film that traced the history of Wabash's study of coeducation and the controversies surrounding those studies. The film served as a metaphor for Harbaugh, who was battling his own issues of identity; trying to understand the intricacies of his relationship with his twin brother, Barry; and trying to get past a trying junior football season.
Now, exactly one year later, and Harbaugh is a completely different person. Beside Myself played to a standing-room-only crowd, and received good reviews and sparked deep thought and conversation. After spending a summer in San Francisco working for a film festival, he returned confident and strong. He led the Little Giant football team to a perfect 10-0 season, North Coast Athletic Conference Championship, Monon Bell victory, and a win in the NCAA III playoffs. He was named a second team All-American and was a finalist for the most prestigious honor in Division III football. He soared as an English major, experimenting with creative writing, poetry, and screenplays.
He will pursue a master's degree in film at Columbia University in the fall, testament to his creative and artistic talent.
And he's spent his entire senior year thinking through and working on Thy Loyal Sons. The film follows three Wabash men through their daily routines at the College. The film examines issues of labels and the compartmentalization of Wabash The students he follows include an African American football player, a fraternity man going through Sphinx Club rush, and an openly gay theater major.
Harbaugh describes it best: "Following three different students for a day each, the film hopes to present various experiences of our small school based on those who maneuver through it. I think at the very least, the film is an interesting exploration of a space so many of us share, though never really in the same way."
The film will be screened in Korb Classroom in the Fine Arts Center on the following dates and times:
Harbaugh may also screen the film next Wednesday, May 3 at 8:00 p.m.
The film is free and open to the public. Seating, however, will be limited to the first 110 people to arrive.
For more information see: