ENGL 241-01, From Hollywoodland to Planet Hollywood: History of American Cinema, Fall 2010

Abstract

This course traces the evolution of American narrative cinema from its beginnings in the nickelodeons to its worldwide dominance during the studio era to its rebirth as a countercultural medium to its most recent transformations in today's global cultural marketplace. We will begin the semester by sketching the rise and fall of the studio system within the context of tumultuous historical events, major economic changes, and noteworthy technological breakthroughs. Then, we will turn to the emergence of New Hollywood, which was born out of the turmoil of counterculture movements and offered a radical departure from the thematic and stylistic uniformity of classical Hollywood. Finally, we will examine how contemporary Hollywood has been altered radically by growing media conglomerations, new exhibition formats, and the transnationalization of the American film industry. Along the way, we will explore the notion of classical cinema; investigate Hollywood's ideological influence on American society; and assess the cultural, technological, and industrial changes that have occurred in American film practice over the course of the last century.