Film: History and Form

This course introduces film history through a broad survey of the medium’s development from the late nineteenth century through the twentieth century. Students examine the emergence of cinematic form and language, including narrative, editing, sound, genre, and spectatorship, alongside the growth and transformation of film as an industry. The course considers film in the United States and across national, regional, and global contexts, with attention to how cinema has shaped and been shaped by culture, politics, technology, and industry.