Course description

One could say that Hollywood seventies cinema began 50 years ago, in 1969. That year, several important films such as Midnight Cowboy inaugurated a renaissance of smart, artistic filmmaking influenced by the European cinemas of France, Italy, and Sweden. The Golden Age of Hollywood finally had come to an end, with the “Studio System” that flourished in the 30s, 40s, and 50s dying a long and painful death. In its place emerged the “New Hollywood.” This course will focus on the most important topics of one of the greatest decades in American cinema, such as the portrayals of race, gender, and class identity; generic transformations; the Vietnam War; and the rise of the Hollywood Blockbuster.

Objectives

This course will have at least 3 objectives:

• To understand the industrial, cultural, and political changes of the decade impacted American cinema;
• To examine how the films both record and shape changing cultural forces (gender, sexuality, class, nationality, and the family) in America during the decade;
• To carry out personal research.

General Education Student Learning Outcomes, Humanities

• Students analyze how ideas are represented, interpreted or valued in various expressions of human culture;
• Students examine relevant primary source materials as understood by the discipline and interpret the material in writing assignments;
• These outcomes will be assessed using the final essay. 

Requirements

Attendance/Participation: 15%
One 4-5pp (1250-1500 words) essay: 20% 
One 8-10pp (2500-3000 words) essay: 30%  
Final exam (Dec. 10 @ 4pm): 35%

Screenings

Screenings will be hosted by the Student Film Club. Screenings are (typically) Wednesdays at 7pm in Stern Center room 206. All films will be on reserve in DVD format at the Circulation Desk at Addlestone Library.