AMST 7400 - The Film Industry in American Culture

3 Class Hours 0 Laboratory Hours 3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program in American Studies or permission of the program director.
Examines the history and cultural influences of the film industry from its beginnings in America through the present. Emphasis is on how the aesthetic, economic, and technological aspects of the film industry and film have affected American Society. Course content deals with the history of film; key eras for film and their impact, such as the 1970s; and the role of particular filmmakers, directors, and producers in shaping popular culture. Students read from the texts to gain historical perspective, see documentary films dealing with aspects of film and the film industry, view and analyze selected individual films and consult reviews of films to ascertain their critical reception and impact on the community at the time of their release. Course may be repeated for credit provided the content differs entirely from the previous offering.