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PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Effective Term: Fall 2013
DAR
173
Credit Hours: 3.00
History of American Cinema
Lecture Periods: 3.00
Lab Periods: 0.00
Description:
American cinematic film making as an art form, economic force, and system of representation and
communication. Includes history of American cinema, development of the image, cinema genres, history of
narrative film and film sounds, alternative American films, analysis and criticism, and American cinema team.
Course Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Describe the historical development of the motion picture and associated film techniques.
2. Compare and contrast genres such as documentary, film noir, horror, science fiction, musical, comedy,
western, and war.
3. List films which have made a significant impact on cinema history according to their genre and subsequent
influences.
4. Discuss the characteristics of American cinema as influenced by the studio system.
5. Demonstrate the relationships between film production and a variety of corporate, political, and public
cultures.
6. Describe Hollywood stardom as a cultural phenomenon.
7. Identify criteria for distinguishing outstanding new and emerging filmmakers.
Outline:
I.
II.
III.
Introduction to the History of American Cinema
A. First frames
B. American film industry
C. Early technology
D. National cinemas and film movements
E. Film stars
Development of the Image
A. Thomas Edison
B. Early mechanisms
C. The movie camera
D. Expressive techniques
Cinema Genres
A. History of genre criticism
B. Western
C. Melodrama
D. Gangster/crime
E. Film noir
F. Horror
G. Musical
H. Documentary
I. Science fiction
J. War
K. Comedy
IV.
History of Narrative Film
A. Early cinema
B. Classic narrative system
C. Development of editing
D. Development of sound
E. Economics of the studio system
V. History of Narrative Film Sound
A. Silent films
B. Early invention
C. Movies talk
D. Synchronous sound
E. Asynchronous sound
F. Music: the film score
G. Sound perspective
H. Hollywood and the silent film
I. Sound and the narrative film
VI. Alternative American Films
A. Documentary
B. Experimental film
C. Independent film
D. Animated film
E. Auteur theory
VII. Analysis and Criticism
A. Film reviewing
B. Film criticism
C. Film theory
VIII. American Cinema Team
A. Writer
B. Director
C. Producer
D. Cinematographer
E. Editor
F. Sound Designer
G. Art Director