In this course students will study the art of film from its invention in the 1890s to the present day, and examine how the cinema has impacted American and world cultures. Students will use film studies, communication, and cultural studies methods to examine film clips and key films, and explore the significance of these works of art in the cultures that created them. Students will develop the necessary analytical and evaluative abilities to understand and articulate how the language of film conveys messages and meaning to audiences.