module specification

In this module you will explore the ways in which Hollywood’s historical film genre represents America’s history of the 20th Century. Framed by a consideration of the genre’s core aims and methodology, as well as critiques of the same, the module will examine notions of myth, American identity, democracy and the American Dream on whose narratives America’s history has been constructed. Drawing on primary and secondary research, you will examine how the genre has worked to both reinforce and critique these ideas, and how contemporary shifts in representation and perspective have challenged the racialized and gendered limitations of past narratives of US history. Considering key myths, events, people and periods of national significance through films including, for example, The Godfather Part II (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974), Jackie (Pablo Larraín, 2016) and The Manchurian Candidate (John Frankenheimer, 1962), the module will examine the cultural significance of the Hollywood historical film and what it tells us about how America sees itself and wants to be seen by the world.

In this module you will:

• Critically analyse the genre of the Hollywood historical film

• Examine the ways in which Hollywood film shapes our understanding of American history

• Explore American mythology articulated through Hollywood film

• Critically analyse screen representations of American historical events, figures and eras

• Explore the ways in which Hollywood film reinforces and challenges narratives of US history

An indicative syllabus for this module will first explore the Hollywood historical film as a genre, considering the debates around these films and their representation of US history, including the conflict between fact and fiction, the impact of cinematic style, the reinforcement of American mythology, and the ‘Great White Man’ narrative. (LO1).

Case studies across the module will examine the depiction of particular periods of US history, individual figures of significance, and core mythologies, including, for example, the immigrant experience and myth of democracy, the Cold War, Civil Rights Movement, and the assassination of John F. Kennedy. These topics will be considered in ways that illustrate the reoccurrence of key themes within the genre and how narratives of American history are both reinforced and critiqued through these films. (LO3)

The module will also consider the impact of alternative perspectives and contexts, such as those of women and people of colour, in the construction of alternative histories and herstories. In doing so, the module will include films by and about women and black Americans, including, for example, Jackie and Selma. (LO4)

You will be able to demonstrate your understanding of the module’s core themes through a final essay that enables primary research on Hollywood historical film(s) of your choice and critical analysis of a core topic of interest. (LO2)

The module’s teaching is built around weekly classes that combine lectures, seminars and film screenings. This strategy enables students to develop their understanding of the module’s key themes and other content and work towards the learning outcomes, and provides the opportunity for group and guided learning through each of these forms of teaching. Students are guided through independent learning with opportunities for tutorials through the course of the module and with additional support from our academic tutor. The module takes a blended learning approach by providing recordings of lectures and additional material on WebLearn.

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

(1) Demonstrate an understanding of debates in relation to the genre of the Hollywood historical film

(2) Use primary and secondary research to critically analyse screen depictions of American history

(3) Explore and analyse how Hollywood’s historical film genre both reinforces and challenges the persistence of America’s fundamental myths

(4) Critically analyse the ways in which alternative narratives of US history might shift our understanding of the nation’s historical narratives and myths

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/3FE1017C-4CB9-3E9B-2728-E544B748741F.html