module specification

This module explores American cinema through the approaches of both key moments in its industrial development and the significance of individual genres, filmmakers and stars. Examining the history of Hollywood from the beginnings of the studio system to the contemporary industry, students will consider the development of an industry and its filmmaking practices, its relationship to wider cultural and political moments, and the importance of the films and filmmakers in our understanding of American culture.

This module aims to:

• Provide students with an historical overview of the development of American cinema

• Develop students’ knowledge of key industrial moments and their significance

• Develop students’ understanding of key genres, filmmakers and stars and their importance in relation to American cinema

• Enable students to critically analyse Hollywood film in relation to American culture

• Promote students’ ability to make connections between events, ideas and personnel significant in the development of American cinema

N/A

In the first part of this module, students will consider the industrial development of American filmmaking and the Hollywood studio system from the 1920s, considering key issues and moments in the developmental history of Hollywood cinema such as the star system, censorship, the House Un-American Activities Committee, the impact of television and the importance of the blockbuster. LO1-5

The second half of the module will focus on key genres, filmmakers and stars, examining their significance in relation to further industrial developments as well as the culture and politics of the United States. Connections will be made with topics studied earlier in the module and with other course modules, demonstrating further the development of American cinema. In addition, students will explore the connections between events, ideas and personnel through comparative studies. LO3,4,6

Learning and teaching on the module will be conducted via lectures, seminars, screenings, blended learning and students’ guided independent study. Students will be expected to enhance their learning in scheduled classes through guided secondary and primary research. The developing assessment strategy provides opportunities for personal development as students are able to reflect on and develop their learning and skills of research and critical analysis in conjunction with tutor feedback from their first focused essay to their final extended comparative essay.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

(1) Demonstrate knowledge of the development of American cinema from the beginning of the studio system to the contemporary industry

(2) Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of key moments in its industrial history

(3) Critically analyse Hollywood film in relation to American culture

(4) Show in-depth knowledge of key genres, filmmakers and stars and an understanding of their wider significance in relation to American cinema

(5) Critically analyse key developments in the history of American cinema

(6) Critically analyse and make connections between events, ideas and personnel significant in the development of American cinema

The assessment strategy for the module provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate content learning and skills of critical analysis through a focused essay in the first semester. Students will receive individual feedback, enabling them to reflect on their learning and develop key skills in preparation for their final assessment. The second essay promotes additional skills in combining both broad and focused learning by assessing students’ abilities to draw comparative connections. Feedback from the first assignment will feed into this final assessment together with spring semester content learning.

Core Texts:

            Richard Maltby, Hollywood Cinema (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1995).

Steven Mintz and Randy Roberts (eds.), Hollywood’s America: United States History Through Its Films (Chichester: Blackwell, 2008).

Other Texts:

John Belton, American Cinema, American Culture (Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2005). 

            Gregory D. Black, Hollywood Censored: Morality Codes, Catholics, and the Movies (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996).

            Marcia Landy (ed.), Imitations of Life: A Reader on Film and Television Melodrama (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1991).

           Steve Neale, Genre and Hollywood, (London: Routledge, 2000).

            Linda Ruth Williams and Michael Hammond (eds.), Contemporary American Cinema (Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2006).

Journals:

Journal of Cinema and Media Studies
Film Comment