History Through Film

History Through Film: Selected Topics in US History

This course examines Hollywood feature films and historical dramas as historical evidence. Students view movies and documentaries on various US history topics and participate in Socratic seminar discussions, complete research packets and write essays comparing that film evidence to information in more traditional sources, such as articles, film reviews and critical commentaries. The students task is to separate fantasy from fact. A major goal of this course is determining what is valid in contemporary films and historical dramas and what do these films say about the people who create them, the politics behind their creation, and how they reflect the values, ideas, and larger historical issues of the times in which they were created. Students will also determine if the story presented accurately depicts actual events. Films will cover the time periods of 1754-2000’s. 

bwerner@bbsd.org

Syllabus