Throughout its century-plus of existence, the cinema has been at once a popular entertainment, a major art form, a culture industry, and a basis for social and national identity. This course goes into depth into historical case studies to examine what film history means as an attempt to explain the richness of cinema’s past. The emphasis will be on research and argumentation. Possible topics to include the political economy of the film industry, reception study, social history of cinema going, national cinema, and auteur or star agency in the studio system. Note: Prior to spring 2010, the course title was “History of Narrative Film.”