HNAR-351: Cinema Against the Grain

American commercial films have been the subject of sustained commentary and debate for nearly as long as they have been produced. Their work on spectators in society is understood rather well by marketing executives, by intellectuals, and indeed by many "average" consumers, if the relentless self-reference of contemporary movies can be accepted as proof. The latest blockbuster -- soon to be commonly acknowledged classics -- address us as though they are the only satisfactory alternative. They (and their flacks) suggest that it would be perverse to want anything more from a movie. And yet, some people go looking elsewhere for film history. There is no unifying theory of works that offer resistance to the dominant model. A number of disparate tendencies and histories must be taken into account. This course takes up a discussion of a few of them in an attempt to suggest possible strategies for those still interested in pursuing a contestatory film practice.