Contents

FILM 195 Hollywood in the 1950s

This course will focus on the film history of the 1950s and the era's post-war affluence and increased leisure time, conformity, the Korean War, middle-class values, the growing influence of the civil rights movement, the introduction of television and TV dinners, abstract art, and a youth reaction to middle-aged cinema. This course will consider the film history of that era as it reflects historical and pop cultural aspects, and will analyze the careers of stars of the decade such as Marlon Brando, James Dean, Paul Newman, Elvis Presley, and Natalie Wood.

Credits

3

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

  1. 1. Develop a general knowledge of the films, directors, and actors of the 1950s.
  2. 2. Compare and contrast films and literary works from the 1950s.
  3. 3. Analyze and discuss thematic connections between Hollywood movies from the 1950s and
    American culture as a whole during that decade.
  4. 4. Identify predominant themes, stories, character types, and devices commonly used in movies
    from this period.
  5. 5. Analyze and discuss the styles of the most important and influential directors of the 1950s.
  6. 6. Compare and contrast the depiction of the ways demographic groups change on screen in ways
    reflecting larger societal changes.
  7. 7. Analyze and discuss the use of films set in the 1950s to make political statements about events
    current at the time of production.

Course Objectives

  1. 1. Develop a general knowledge of the films, directors, and actors of the 1950s.
  2. 2. Compare and contrast films and literary works from the 1950s.
  3. 3. Analyze and discuss thematic connections between Hollywood movies from the 1950s and
    American culture as a whole during that decade.
  4. 4. Identify predominant themes, stories, character types, and devices commonly used in movies
    from this period.
  5. 5. Analyze and discuss the styles of the most important and influential directors of the 1950s.
  6. 6. Compare and contrast the depiction of the ways demographic groups change on screen in ways
    reflecting larger societal changes.
  7. 7. Analyze and discuss the use of films set in the 1950s to make political statements about events
    current at the time of production.