LibGuides: HIS336: Module 1 Resources

Lesson 1 Required Resources

The reading and videos for Lesson 1 take us back to the rise of Hollywood and two landmark silent films. Watching a silent film takes patience, but that is part of what we are learning in studying culture – the art of training your mind to uncomfortable tasks that challenge you.

Textbook

Movies and American Society
Ross, S. J. (Ed.). (2014). Movies and American society (2nd ed.). Wiley Blackwell.

This first set of readings from your text introduces you to the discipline of film analysis, the early period of film history when films were more politicized, and a few primary documents related to the work of Oscar Michaeux whose film you are viewing.
- Read pages 1-11, 43-57, and 185-188. Optional reading is pages 177-185.

Your course textbook can be purchased from the NU Bookstore link in the Course Resources area of Getting Started.

Videos

The Birth of a Nation: A Presentation of Whiteness
Anne's Uni Projects. (2021, April 9). The Birth of a Nation: A presentation of whiteness [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJCCUDzxi8c
- This first clip is a student presentation that summarizes Birth of a Nation and its portrait of race relations. You should be aware that although this film remains one of the most important films in terms of cinematographic technique, it is a deeply racist film that your second film challenges.
1915 Film "The Birth of a Nation" Clip
C-SPAN. (2015, November 18). 1915 film "The Birth of a Nation" clip [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBzDH-Vwzy4
- This second clip gives you a longer view of one of the key racialized scenes that occurs after the North has won the Civil War. It imagines the first meeting of the South Carolina House of Representatives, which, for the first time in US history, had many black representatives. How does Griffith “imagine” African American governance?
The Lasting Legacy of Oscar Micheaux's The Symbol of the Unconquered
Turner Classic Movies. (2021, May 25). The lasting legacy of Oscar Micheaux's The Symbol of the Unconquered [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO1L2rN4UpM
- Watch this short analysis of Oscar Micheaux’s work by Jacqueline Stewart.
The Symbol of the Unconquered (1920). Restored version.
Micheauz, O. (Director). (1920). The symbol of the unconquered [Film]. Kanopy. https://nu.kanopy.com/node/278629
- Watch the full film (59 minutes).

Lesson 2 Required Resources

Textbook

Movies and American Society
Ross, S. J. (Ed.). (2014). Movies and American society (2nd ed.). Wiley Blackwell.

This second set of readings from your text introduces you to the rise of Hollywood and the move to censorship that aimed to depoliticize films and force films to answer to mainstream norms.
- Read pages 66-90 and 100-121.

Your course textbook can be accessed in the Getting Started module.

Videos

The Searchers
Ford, J. (Director). (1956). The Searchers [Film]. Swank Motion Pictures, Inc. https://www.swank.com/digital-campus/details/15210-the-searchers
- This film is an example of the Western genre, and you will be analyzing it to see how the American West has been portrayed in Hollywood.

Optional Resources

Reconstruction

Gone with the Wind
Fleming, V. (Director). (1939). Gone with the wind [Film]. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

The Birth of a Nation
Griffith, D. W. (Director). (1915). The Birth of a Nation [Film]. Kanopy. https://nu.kanopy.com/node/114596

The Western Genre

Unforgiven
Eastwood, C. (Director). (1992). Unforgiven [Film]. Warner Bros.

Django Unchained
Tarantino, Q. (Director). (2012) Django unchained [Film]. The Weinstein Company.

The Power of the Dog
Campion, J. (Director). (2021). The power of the dog [Film]. Netflix.