Same as MEDIA ST 1070. This course provides an overview of American cinema from the early beginnings of D.W. Griffith and his contemporaries to the present day. The course will discuss both the Hollywood studio system and today's independent movement. Genre, film theory, criticism, and aesthetics are also covered.

Prerequisites: THEATR 1070 or MEDIA ST 1070; or equivalent. This course studies the impact of cinema and the entertainment industry on the social perceptions of African-Americans and on African-American culture. The history of African-American films from Oscar Micheaux in the 1920's through 1970's Blaxploitation to present directors and producers will be examined. African-American experiences and roles in films will also be discussed.