Honors

HNRS 327-01: American Film Since 1970

This class examines the social, industrial, technological, and aesthetic history of American cinema from 1970 to the present. It focuses on film as an art form but also explores the way films intersect with historical developments in technology, economics, politics and culture. Because popular cinemas have been defined vis-à-vis classical form and style, we will start by examining the classical Hollywood cinema. As the course progresses, we will investigate the ways that recent Hollywood film does or does not follow classical norms. We will also consider the influence of the international art cinema of the 1960s (particularly the French New Wave) on mainstream filmmaking in the United States. Other topics under consideration include: the impact of second wave feminism; race, gender and sexuality; the aftermath of Watergate and the Vietnam war; conglomeration and globalization; Miramax, Sundance and the independent cinema boom; the impact of home video, cable TV, digital technology and the internet.

Fall Term: 2008

Credits: 4

Fulfills: GE Requirement in Fine Arts (A)

Cross-listed: CINE 408-01

Meeting times: 13:30-14:20 MWF, film screenings Tuesday & Thursday 7:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m.

Instructor: Jane Greene

Open to: Juniors/Seniors Only, limited by quota