MON 9-11am & WED 9-10am

Course Description

This course examines a variety of forms of contemporary American filmmaking, including Hollywood, “indie” narrative, documentary, and amateur practices. The shift from the vertically-integrated oligopoly of the classical studio era to the dominance of entertainment conglomerates will be contextualized, as will the opening of this formerly restrictive cultural sphere to alternative forms of creation and dissemination. Finally, a survey of significant changes to familiar modes will include examinations of new generic trends, recent non-fictional and documentary practices, modified notions of authorship, and evolving cross-media and cross-cultural developments.                    

Learning Outcomes

• You will become acquainted with the industrial, technological, and economic forces that have determined recent production, distribution and exhibition strategies.
• You will come to understand why Hollywood has moved from a focus on an undifferentiated audience to niche marketing and other forms of receptive configurations.

• Through considerations of “Indiewood” and independent cinema you will learn the importance of digital production, the festival circuit, streaming media and mobile delivery services.
• You will conceptualize the evolving role of social media in both professional and amateur creation and dissemination practices.

• You will refine your analytical skills in order to evaluate the formal achievements and cultural significance of an array of contemporary films, and produce informed critical reviews