Morningside College professors Marty S. Knepper and John Shelton Lawrence recently published a book about Iowa films. Knepper is also featured in the “Hollywood in the Heartland” exhibit at the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines through late 2016.

Morningside College professors Marty S. Knepper and John Shelton Lawrence recently published a book about Iowa films. Knepper is also featured in the “Hollywood in the Heartland” exhibit at the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines through late 2016.

“The Book of Iowa Films” is the only comprehensive history and discussion of over 400 Iowa movies from 1918 through 2013, including both Hollywood films and independent films. It covers films made in Iowa and set in Iowa, films featuring traveling Iowans, documentaries, and films that merely mention Iowa. Also included is an essay on Iowa in World War II films.

“The history of Iowa movies is a history of Iowa itself—its landscape, its heroes, its history, and its contradictory image in the national imagination,” Knepper said. The book is available in both paperback and e-book format at various online sites listed on the book’s website: www.bookofiowafilms.com. It is available locally at Book People, the Sioux City Public Museum, Sioux City Gifts and the Morningside College Bookstore.

Knepper was a contributing expert for the “Hollywood in the Heartland” exhibit at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, 600 E. Locust St., Des Moines. It tells the story of Iowa’s experience of the movies from the silent era to the present, including movie technology, drive-ins, and Iowa actors such as Donna Reed and Ashton Kutcher. At the exhibit in Des Moines, Knepper provides filmed commentary on five major motion pictures: “State Fair,” “The Music Man,” “Cold Turkey,” “Field of Dreams” and “The Bridges of Madison County.” It is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Knepper, professor of English and chair of the English and modern languages department at Morningside College, frequently writes and speaks about popular culture. She has been a member of Morningside’s faculty since 1984 and has taught courses in American popular culture, literature, writing and film. Knepper has a doctorate in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Lawrence is a professor emeritus of philosophy at Morningside College. He taught philosophy and interdisciplinary studies at Morningside from 1966 to 1996. He is the author of numerous articles and books on American popular culture. He holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin.