HIS 256 - Reel History: The Cold War and American Film (1)

This course explores Cold War politics and culture through Hollywood films, examining how Americans’ fears of communism, atomic energy, and nuclear warfare were expressed in a diverse range of genres including film noir, documentary, and science fiction (such as Them! in which giant mutating ants threaten to take over Los Angeles). Despite its production of anti-communist films, Hollywood came under attack from the House Committee on Un-American Activities. As a result, many people working in the film industry were denied their civil liberties and black-listed. We will also examine how Cold War ideologies about race and gender played out onscreen and off. In addition to film screenings, there will be a large amount of course readings. Prerequisite: First-year writing course (W)
(Humanities)