Cinema Studies in History
This course is centered around the use of cinema to tell the stories of history on three central themes; Musical History Revisited, The Art of War, and Equity & 20th Century Human Rights. Each with its own distinct vibrant topic-based discussions. Hollywood and filmmakers have embellish, twisted, and have added composite characters to their masterpieces to advance and tell their stories. Each theme will explore these changes and/or challenges faced by the cinematic lens to advance narratives, convey empathy, or explore fantasy in an ever-changing world.
Marking Period 4
Musical History Revisited is based upon histories we believe we know. This film set will musically explore;
- The Industrial Revolution and the Victorian Age in Oliver!
- 19th Century NYC Barnum in The Greatest Showman
- The Fin de Siècle (turn of the century) in The Wizard of Oz
- The troubled 1970s easing on down the road in The Wiz
- A Mexican-American Musical Cultural Experience in Selena The Real Story: Selena
- Teenage Resistance in pre World War II Nazi Germany in Swing Kids
Marking Period 5
The Art of War will take two different approaches to war, one approach will focus on Art and the historical implications of these treasures during war. Second, will be exploring how war was waged during World War II and use Sun Tzu's, The Art of War from the Chinese 5th century BCE as a guide.
- Church, State, Secret Societies, and Art in The Da Vinci Code
- Recovering Nazi Stolen Art Treasures in Monuments Men
- Jewish Nazi Stolen Art in NYC in Women in Gold
- Italian Holocaust in Life is Beautiful
- America experiences a Sneak Attack in Pearl Harbor
- The Plot to Kill Adolf Hitler in Valkyrie
Marking Period 6
Equity and 20th Century Human Rights is based upon the constant struggle for human rights. From genocide to the recognition of the LGBTQIA+ community, and from religious tolerance to the plight of orphans worldwide, this film set will explore these 20th and 21st century challenges. This film set includes;
- The fight for civil rights in Selma
- The struggle of Diverse Teens at a NYC Music Camp in Camp
- Genocide in Africa in the 1990s in Hotel Rwanda
- Code Breaking in WWII with The Imitation Game
- A long way home for a Indian orphan in Lion