DAR 173 - History of American Cinema

1. Discuss the characteristics of American cinema and the classical Hollywood style as related to the technical and narrative elements of filmmaking.
2. Describe American film history in terms of specific periods, such as the silent era, the golden age, and identify how Hollywood stardom and the studio system existed as a cultural phenomenon.
3. Compare and contrast critical elements of film genres such as documentary, film noir, horror, science fiction, musical, comedy, western, and war.
4. Analyze the relationships between American film production and distribution based on a variety of cultural, political, and corporate influences including those related to war, social awareness, and current events.

1. Introduction to the History of American Cinema
   1. First frames
   2. American film industry
   3. Early technology
   4. National cinemas and film movements
   5. Film stars
   6. Global influences of American cinema
2. Development of the Hollywood Style/World-Wide Storytelling
   1. Thomas Edison
   2. Early mechanisms
   3. The movie camera
   4. Expressive techniques
3. Cinema Genres
   1. History of genre criticism
   2. Cultural influence of film
   3. Western
   4. Melodrama
   5. Gangster/crime
   6. Film noir
   7. Horror
   8. Musical
   9. Documentary
   10. Science fiction
   11. War
   12. Comedy
4. History of Narrative Film
   1. Early cinema
   2. Classic narrative system
   3. Development of editing
   4. Development of sound
   5. Economics of the studio system
   6. International influence
5. History of Narrative Film Sound
   1. Silent films
   2. Early invention
   3. Movies talk
   4. Synchronous sound
   5. Asynchronous sound
   6. Music: the film score
   7. Sound perspective
   8. Hollywood and the silent film
   9. Sound and the narrative film
6. Alternative American Films
   1. Documentary
   2. Experimental film
   3. Independent film
   4. Animated film
   5. Auteur theory
7. Analysis and Criticism
   1. Film reviewing
   2. Film criticism
   3. Film theory
   4. Exporting American culture
8. American Cinema Production Team
   1. Writer
   2. Director
   3. Producer
   4. Cinematographer
   5. Editor
   6. Sound Designer
   7. Art Director