Topics in Literature, Film, and Media (215-0-01)

Topic

The Genres of Classic Hollywood Cinema

Instructors

Julia Ann Stern
847/491-3530
University Hall Room 415
Office Hours: Mondays 1:1:50; Tuesdays 10-11; and Thursdays 12:20-1

James Hodge
847 4915675
University Hall Room 408

Meeting Info

University Hall 102: Mon, Wed 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

Film noir! the musical! melodrama or the "woman's film"! the western! the screwball comedy! This course surveys the most powerful genres of Hollywood cinema's "classical" era, the period of studio production from the 1910s to about 1960. Focusing on the sound era this course introduces students to the study of Hollywood cinema as a mode of industrial cultural production at the dynamic intersection of art and mass culture. Our approach will be to study one film per week with an emphasis on formal analysis supplemented by readings from film theory and history. Films will likely include The Wizard of Oz (1939), Sullivan's Travels (1941), Now, Voyager (1942), Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Boulevard (1950), and Singin' in the Rain (1952), among others. Readings may include writings by Bordwell, Thompson, and Staiger, Altman, Cavell, L. Williams, and others. Assignments will include short papers, a video editing exercise (no expertise required), and a final project.

Teaching Method

Lecture & discussion.

Evaluation Method

Short writing assignments.

Class Attributes

Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area

Associated Classes

DIS - University Hall 018 English: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM

DIS - University Hall 018 English: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM

DIS - University Hall 218: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM

DIS - University Hall 218: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM

DIS - University Hall 118: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM

DIS - University Hall 118: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM