FLM 225 - The Western Film

Institution:

Muhlenberg College

Subject:

Description:

This course will examine the Western as the American film genre par excellence. Numerous theoretical approaches will be used to study the rise and fall of the Western's popularity, its role in shaping popular myths about the United States, and its representation of masculine identity. By going chronologically from early classical to more contemporary films, students will learn how ideology and sociohistorical conditions lead to the making of certain films at certain times. In addition to looking at the classical Western, the course will analyze how the socalled spaghetti Western and political events such as the Vietnam War have transformed the genre. Students will learn how to read and discuss films by analyzing the various cinematic codes (lighting, editing, camera angles, sets, music, the three gazes, etc.), the significance of the star system, and theories of spectatorship and scopophilia. Attendance at weekly screenings is required.

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.muhlenberg.edu

Phone Number:

(484) 664-3100

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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