BLACKS, FILM, AND SOCIETY

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Civics & Perspectives Ethnic St - Ethnic Studies Breadth - Social Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Summer 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe basic forms and uses of film, its early history both as entertainment and as a tool for documenting aspects of African American life. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Describe different kinds of films produced by African Americans in different periods with the constant innovations in film technology and changes in public events that were replicated in commercial films. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Demonstrate the necessary skills to write about visual imagery and narrative strategies in African American films, as well as some practice in personal critiques of the effectiveness of the works they have seen. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Conduct extensive archival research using the methodologies and practices by scholars of African American film. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe basic forms and uses of film, its early history both as entertainment and as a tool for documenting aspects of African American life. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Describe different kinds of films produced by African Americans in different periods with the constant innovations in film technology and changes in public events that were replicated in commercial films. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Demonstrate the necessary skills to write about visual imagery and narrative strategies in African American films, as well as some practice in personal critiques of the effectiveness of the works they have seen. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Conduct extensive archival research using the methodologies and practices by scholars of African American film. Audience: Graduate