JWST 1987
Last Updated
- Schedule of Classes - June 11, 2025 2:48PM EDT
Classes
JWST 1987
Course Description
Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.
Why were Jews virtually invisible in films produced during the Hollywood's golden age? Is this a surprise, given the leading role played by American Jews in founding the studio system? Writing about the films studied in this course will help students situate and interpret the presence (and absence) of characters identifiable as Jews in Hollywood films released from the silent era through the present. We will view approximately six films in their entirety and study excerpts from others. Films to be studied in whole or part may include: The Immigrant, The Jazz Singer, The Great Dictator, Casablanca, The Apartment, Funny Girl, Annie Hall, Barton Fink, and A Serious Man. Students will write film analyses, review essays, reflective responses, and explorations of contextual material. Readings from film studies and popular journalism will situate these films within the historical, cultural, and industrial contexts in which they were produced.
Writing and Languages (FWS)
Distribution Requirements (WRT-AG)
Last 3 terms offered 2024FA, 2023FA, 2022FA
FWS Session.
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Credits and Grading Basis
3 Credits Graded(Letter grades only)
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Class Number & Section Details
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Meeting Pattern
- TR
- Aug 25 - Dec 8, 2025
Instructors
Shapiro, E
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Additional Information
Instruction Mode: In Person
For more information about First-Year Writing Seminars, see the Knight Institute website at http://knight.as.cornell.edu/.