American Film Culture

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

To some, road movies are synonymous with American film - not just a product of American culture, but to some extent as defining visions of “America” itself. At the same time, the lens of road trips and travel has been used around the world to explore different cultures, perspectives and politics. One constant is that characters embark on a trip, whether intentionally or accidentally, which in some way proves transformative. Join in on journeys by car, by foot, by motorcycle, by boat, by plane and watch some of the greatest road films made in the 20th and 21st centuries. Members of the class will learn to read and analyze film, and to become aware of broader issues in popular film and cultural studies: myth, discovery, gender, sex, race, and more. No prior knowledge of film is necessary; we’ll learn as we go. Films will include: It Happened One Night, Paris Texas, Thelma and Louise, Mad Max Fury Road, Vagabond, La Jaula de Oro, The Hitchhiker, Easy Rider and others. There are no outside screenings; you will watch the films on your own.