Understanding Film: The American Musical

Understanding Film: The American Musical: Musicals are one of the most popular and iconic of classic Hollywood genres. From their origins on the Broadway stage to their extraordinary success in the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, and Judy Garland, the musical has helped to define American popular culture. Yet film musicals have also experienced mixed fortunes, particularly after the 1960s, when a period of decline was followed by repeated efforts to renew and transform the genre, leading to the rebirth of the musical in recent years.

In Understanding Film: The American Musical we will explore the history of the American musical from its origins on screen in the early sound period to the present day. We will look at the enduring connections to its origin in the theatre and music halls, and look at parallel connections with television and the wider music industry.

You will learn how to analyse clips from film musicals to investigate and understand the key forms of the genre and how those forms have changed over time, and examine the critical debates that have always surrounded musicals.

You will also examine the role of the musical in American popular culture and its negotiation of the changing social contexts in which the films have been produced, distributed and viewed by different audiences.

No previous knowledge of film history is required.