Students will study the content of films from different eras, genres, and countries, with a main focus on American cinema. The course begins with foundational vocabulary and then surveys a variety of films that track the developments in industry style, trends, and filmmaking technology over time. Students will analyze and critique films viewed in class through a variety of written and spoken activities. Critical thinking, analysis, discussion, debate, and reflective visual reading are the major objectives of this course. This is a one-semester elective class.