Course Description
Hollywood's America: Twentieth-Century Social History in American Movies surveys some of the significant social issues and important historical moments of the last century as they were portrayed in films of the era by white, African American, and Native American directors. We'll explore the ways in which Hollywood portrayed poverty, racism, immigration, sex, addiction, and violence, and we will also discuss the Great Depression, the rise of gangster culture in the 1920s, the Hollywood Production Code, the star system, film noir, and other features important to an understanding of film during this period. A consistent theme in the pictures we'll see is the idea of the American dream: the ways in which it is defined by people in different decades, the events that cause it to seem possible (or impossible), and the ways in which films present the obstacles that prevent people from achieving it. To facilitate our discussions of the films, class members will be expected to read short pieces (essays or short stories) related to the film for that week, and most weeks there will be student presentations related to the content of the film.
Among the films currently scheduled for viewing are Redskin, The Public Enemy (or Scarface), 42nd Street or Golddiggers of 1933, The Grapes of Wrath, Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce, A Place in the Sun, Sullivan's Travels, Bonnie and Clyde, Boyz n the Hood, The Godfather or Goodfellas, and Smoke Signals. Note: Because we'll be looking at these films in chronological order, more or less, you should be aware that the early films will be silent (with music and intertitles), and the films up through spring break will be in black and white.
Corrigan, Timothy |
A Short Guide to Writing About Film |
Longman |
2009 |
0205668941 (Required) |
Bordwell, David & Thompson,Kristen |
Film Art |
McGraw Hill |
2010 |
978-0-07-338616-4 (Recommended) |
Other required readings will be available online.
Dr. Donna Campbell
Avery 357 • 335-4831
campbelld@wsu.edu
Facebook, IM, Twitter: drcampbell6676