America Dreams American Movies II: Independents Through Streaming

This course studies contemporary American movies as they create and reflect America's self-image from the rise of independents through the innovations of the 21st century, including digital video, streaming, and the rise of high-quality TV productions. Approaches include U.S. cultural history, industry developments, and technical analysis. Directors such as Kubrick, Coppola, Spielberg, Tarantino, Lee, Moore, Cameron, Campion, Jenkins, Bigelow, Peele, Du Vernay, and others up to today. At least two weeks of the semester will be devoted to TV, such as Game of Thrones, The Americans, or Watchmen. Like the film and TV industries themselves, assignments encourage creativity and collaboration.