Film and Social Change

Examination of cinema—as it has evolved in the U.S. and other countries—as a vehicle to document, comment upon, and enact political and social change. Examination of film movements, producers, industrial conditions, and audience reception practices that have foregrounded use of cinema in political and social movements including U.S. civil rights; anti-war; labor; feminist; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual; and disability rights. Study of essential terminology and style for writing about film, an increasingly vital competency for responsible citizenship in a media-driven public sphere. Study addresses diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, ability, class, and nationality through lectures, screenings, readings, and assignments that introduce students to theoretical concepts necessary to understand social and political conditions including power, ideology, hegemony, institution, etc. While focus is on the U.S., other countries and other formats for grounding in broader global context are referenced.

P/NP or letter grading.