How do movies reflect and affect American culture? What makes the art of film so powerful as a social and economic force in contemporary America? Why do certain films that "speak" to one generation seem to fall on deaf ears in the next, only to be heard again later? Through readings in film technique and criticism, through viewing and analyzing selected films, and above all, though formal and informal writing, students in this course will address these and related questions while developing their skills in critical perception, critical thinking, and written argumentation.