History 262: U.S. History in Film

Syllabus

This History 262 is now taught exclusively on line via the Internet through the NVCC Distance Learning Center. If you have enrolled before the regular semester start, week one will coincide with the schedule below. If you register in a later section, your course will begin according to the start date you are given.

General: This syllabus is based upon a sixteen week semester. Although you are not required to follow a strict schedule, you will most likely be successful if you progress through the course as laid out. If you go too fast, you will not benefit from feedback and comments from your instructor and colleagues; if you go too slow, you will find yourself getting behind and may be pressed for time at the end of the course.

Before you begin the course, please fill out and submit an information form.

You will need to use the Blackboard Course Management System in this course.

• Blackboard Information
• Link direct to Blackboard

“U.S. History and Film” examines the ways in which Hollywood—defined as the film, television and cable industries—has depicted American history. By watching a number of feature films and discussing our reactions we will attempt to understand how film makers have used and abused history and to what ends.

Requirements: The film list for this course is divided into 8 sections. You are asked to watch at least one full-length film every other week—eight altogether, one from each section—using the alternate weeks for research and critique of your film selections. Since each of you will select the films you want to watch, an important part of the course will be your sharing of your reactions and critiques of the films with your colleagues.

NEW: In response to queries about what's required, I have decided to make your background and assessments for the first two groups pass-fail—that is, you have to do them, and based on feedback you'll know what to expect. We'll get a little more formal in Group 3, though your essays do not have to be formally structured. Just write what you have to say, but do include sources you used for background and reviews.

As each distance learning course requires three proctored (supervised) assessments, students will be required to go to a campus or other testing center and take an exam based on each of three films they have already observed. The exams will be tailored to specific films, and students will be required to answer questions about the film and write one or two short essays in which they critique the film and its meaning. Guidance will be provided in advance, and each critique will be based on a film of your choice. For each proctored assessment you will tell the instructor in advance which film you intend to critique and several short essay questions will be provided through Blackboard.

Recommended Resources: There is no text for the course, but students will be expected to use online or library resources to research films reviews, the events on which the films are based, or the books or stories from which they were made. Here is a list of some works you might want to find and consult.

1. Mark C. Carnes et. al., eds. Past Imperfect: History According to the Movies (Henry Holt Reference Book)
2. Joseph H. Roquemore. History Goes to the Movies: A Viewer's Guide to the Best (And Some of the Worst) Historical Films Ever Made
3. Robert Brent Toplin. History by Hollywood: The Use and Abuse of the American Past
4. Robert Brent Toplin. Reel History: In Defense of Hollywood
5. Robert A. Rosenstone. Visions of the Past: The Challenge of Film to Our Idea of History
6. John Sayles, Thinking in Pictures: The Making of the Movie Matewan.

Expectations: This is an upper-level history course. Professional historians have now fully recognized the significance of film on the teaching and learning of history. Most Americans, as well as foreign nationals both in the U.S. and abroad, get the bulk of their knowledge of American history, society and culture from movies and television. Much of what is viewed has little but entertainment value, but many films and programs deal with real historic matter.

Our goal in this class is to evaluate how well “Hollywood” deals with American history. Thus a general knowledge of American history is assumed. Depending on your history background, you may have to do some basic reading the get the context of the films we watch. I will provide a general historic setting for each film.

Assignments:

For each film students will be required to research the background of the historic events on which the film is based, read reviews or commentary on the film by participants—actors, producers and directors—and by critics. After watching the film, which students will have to obtain from a rental service or library, students will prepare a brief essay describing how well the film depicts the historic drama, the characters, and the meaning of the events. As mentioned above, three of those essays must be done in a testing center.

The films will be organized into 8 groups, and students will be required to select one film from each groups and perhaps one extra film from another category.

Each week students will research the background of the film the select and its subject matter. Links will be placed in the History 262 web site for reference. Students should also consult library resources for books and articles about the film and subject matter, including reviews in magazines or newspapers. Prior to watching the film student should go into the Blackboard Discussion Forum to talk about what you learned.

In the following week, you will watch the film and write an essay of about 3-5 pages which you will submit by mail or email. Your essay should incluide your critique and infoimation about hte background and how the two relate. Then post a brief summary of your comments on the discussion board. You should respond to each other's comments and compare notes.

You may choose any film from the list provided. If you wish to substitute a film of your choice, notify me well in advance, as I will not approve any film unless I am familiar with it or decide to view it in advance.

Schedule

Return to History 262
Return to the Sage Page
Updated September 21, 2004