Course Description

This course explores one of the most critical issues for America as a nation, “divide,” through analysis of select Hollywood films. The films screened in this course showcase two different views, or opposing attitudes, towards politics, social fashion, and institutions that have been deeply rooted in America since the country’s founding. Thematic foci to be discussed are counter-culture, racism, compassion, inclusion, collective society, and individual life. The films to be analyzed in this course include works created in the late 1960s up to as recently as 2017. Despite the long period of time over which these films were made, the films all have commonalities that make us ponder the future course of America as a “laboratory of democracy.” This course is held in English.