Neil Lerner

Neil Lerner is a Professor of Music and Chair of Film, Media, and Digital Studies at Davidson College. He is a musicologist specializing in the history and analysis of music in screen media, including film, television, and video games.

Education:

• Ph.D. and A.M. from Duke University
• B.A. from Transylvania University

Lerner’s research focuses on intersections between music and culture, with particular emphasis on film music in genres like science fiction and horror, music and disability studies, and the evolution of video game music. He has co-edited four influential books on these topics and served as Editor of the journal American Music.

Recent Trends: His work spans analyses of iconic scores in films like Star Wars and Hitchcock-Herrmann collaborations, as well as music in interactive media such as Super Mario Bros. and Plants vs. Zombies. He also explores historical contexts of music in early cinema and modern digital narratives.

Teaching: Offers courses including MUS 228 Film Music, FMS 421 Seminar in Film and Media Studies, and MUS 401 Senior Seminar, with topics ranging from horror film analysis to the legacy of The Birth of a Nation.