This course surveys the historical development of Hollywood as one of the leading exporters of American culture—each year earning billions of dollars domestically and abroad and spawning a litany of film-themed products through ancillary business. Students examine nine distinct time periods in film history beginning with the pre-cinema period in the late 1800’s—organized around four major themes: cultural/historical events, a detailed look at the film business, cataloging of important studio films by genre and an analysis of important films/filmmakers. Students learn about Hollywood’s effects on fashion, language, economics and politics. Students analyze the industry’s celebrity class—the American equivalency of royalty. Students find links between the past, present and future to understand the contemporary film industry.
ENGL101, COMM103 or permission of instructor.