Instructors can not manually add anyone to the class at any time, there are no ADD CODES. Placement on the wait list does not guarantee a spot in the class. Please continue to look for other open CCSF classes and assume that you will not get into the class if you are on the wait list. If the course is full and any spots open up, I will only add students on the official wait list / class add request list in order of placement during Week 1 for this class (June 2-8).
Instructor: Denah Johnston
Time: Online Course/Canvas
Messaging for class related items: Canvas Inbox only for enrolled students.
Typical response time within 48 hours M-F, not including holiday or school closures.
Email: djohnston(at)ccsf.edu
Other Courses Taught By Professor Johnston in Summer 2025:
RAM ID Portal/Canvas Login Help
Canvas Support Hotline (844) 592-2198 available 24/7
American Cinema is an introductory course in film studies examining the history and development of Hollywood and the movie business and their sustained influence on American culture. The tools of cinematic grammar in creating a universal visual language are also explored.
All films for the class will be embedded in Canvas via streaming resources provided by the CCSF Library such as Films on Demand, Swank, InfoBase's Feature Films for Education Collection, and the BLC Library of Foreign Language Film Clips. Once you use your RAM ID to access Canvas you will be able to stream the films directly in each Module.
Cinema Research Guide for CCSF Libraries
American Film: A History (2nd Edition) by Jon Lewis
All material for the class comes from the 2nd edition. Use the older edition at your own risk.
The publisher (Norton) currently has the best pricing on physical and digital formats.
Note that the CCSF Library also has a few copies you can use, but they are first come first serve and there are 3 sections of this class.