Film Renaissance 70's
Gregory Wolmart profile
W 6-9:10
From The Godfather and Taxi Driver to Apocalypse Now and The Deer
Hunter, it is widely recognized that some of the greatest films in US
history were produced in the 1970's. Many attribute this renaissance of
American film to the rise in prominence of the visionary auteur, who was
well versed in the art and histories of the cinema, and who was
relatively free from the pressures of a declining studio system. Others
believe that Hollywood merely found a way to market the forces that
threatened its social and economic foundations. Whatever the causes, the
results powerfully addressed a wide range of issues, from civil rights,
family crisis and urban decay, to the psychological and social
repercussions of an unpopular war in the lives of soldiers and citizens
alike. We will also ponder the rise of the "blockbuster" and the
subsequent retrenchment of commercial values in American film
production. Directors will include Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola,
Terence Malick, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg, among others. No
prior experience in film studies required, just a serious critical
appreciation for film as an art form and as a powerful cultural
institution. Requirements will likely include two critical essays, a
running journal of responses to the films, and a midterm examination.
updated 2007-06-29
