FMS 270 Race & Gender in American Film Professor Michael Green

In this course we will investigate the diverse ways in which race and gender are represented in American film history and culture. In a broader context, we will also analyze how the meaning of race and gender, and their intersectionality, has shifted and changed across time and space, and how cinema has contributed to these shifts. We will pay particular attention to the relationship between visual style, narrative structure, generic convention and identity. Our goal is to become more literate about the power of film to reflect and refract ideologies of race and gender, and to analyze how these identities impact the experiences of individuals and groups in our society. At the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) analyze the representation and narration of race and gender in American film; 2) reflect on some of the methods and frameworks that scholars have employed in their study of race and gender in American film; 3) articulate an understanding of American film by strengthening your writing, debating, and listening skills; and 4) recognize yourself as a socio-cultural subject whose viewing experiences are contextually influenced and filled (for better and for worse) with ideology. We expect every student to leave this course with a more insightful understanding of the meaning of race and gender in American film.