From the demise of the studio system in the 1960s and the rise of American underground film, to the 21st century blockbuster superhero, this authoritative collection of introductory and specialized readings explores the core issues and developments in American cinematic history during the second half of the twentieth-century through the present day. The student-friendly structure--that also invites much deeper scholarly consideration--divides coverage into the periods 1960-1975, 1976-1990, and 1991 to the present day, each section opening with an historical overview.
Bringing together a rich and varied selection of contributions by established scholars, The History of American Film: 1960 to the Present combines broad historical, social, and political contexts with detailed analysis of individual films including Midnight Cowboy, Nashville, Cat Ballou, Chicago, Back to the Future, Killer of Sheep, Daughters of the Dust, Nothing But a Man, Ali, Easy Rider, The Conversation, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Longtime Companion, The Matrix, The War Tapes, the Batman films, and selected avant-garde and documentary films, among many others. Topics explored range from the dismantling of the studio system and the rise of the New Hollywood to the impact of television and CGI; from revisionist approaches to film genre to the rise of independent and underground film; from the impact of the civil rights, feminist and LGBT movements to that of 9/11 on the American film industry. Additional online resources available such as sample syllabi, which include suggested readings and filmographies for both general and specialized courses.
