Movies and American Society

Movies are more than just an evening's entertainment. As historical documents, they reflect how Americans see and think about their world. Movies and American Society is a comprehensive collection of thirteen essays and supporting primary documents that explore how films have changed--and been changed by--American society from 1905 to the present.Each chapter contains an introduction by the editor, an essay that explores how movies made during a specific period dealt with problems of the time, discussion questions, primary documents, and suggestions for further reading and film screenings. The second edition includes a new chapter on American Film in the Age of Terror, as well as new essays for the chapters on Race, Violence, and Film and Hollywood Goes Global and fully updated Readings and Screenings sections. The book provides sustained discussion and insight into each period while examining a broad range of topics, from ideology, politics, and gender to class, war, and race relations. The jargon-free essays are engaging and accessible for students and the documents explore not only social practices and controversies but also the fun and cultural influence of movies and movie-going.Bringing together the best scholarship and many never-before-collected documents, this is an essential resource for those wishing to understand the social and cultural impact of film on 20th- and 21st-century American life.