Another Lens Project
Your job is not to merely summarize the events of the film you choose; it is to support, investigate, challenge, validate or critique the perspective on American history that is being presented to you, the viewer.
Historical Movie Analysis Project, est. 2011
This assignment will challenge you to turn a critical eye toward a film of your choice, to look beyond the “things crashing into other things” and find meaning in a popular movie that deals with your era of historical study.
U.S. History I: Pre-Contact to 1877
(w/ embedded Letterboxd links for each film)
Pre-Contact & European Conquest
The French & Indian War
Religiosity in Early America
The Revolution & Early Republic
The Slave Experience
Westward Migration & Native America
The Abolitionists
Soldiers and the Civil War
The Immigrant Experience
Reconstruction
Myth, Racism, and Violence in the Old West
U.S. History II: 1877-Present
(w/ embedded Letterboxd links for each film)
Evolution, Industry, and Urbanization
The Great War (World War I)
The Roaring ’20s
American Gangsters
The Untouchables (1987)
Public Enemies (2009)
The Godfather (1972)
Scarface (1983)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
The Great Depression & New Deal
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Cinderella Man (2005)
Bound for Glory (1976)
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
World War II
Patton (1970)
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Windtalkers (2002)
Red Tails (2012)
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
The Longest Day (1962)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Unbroken (2014)
Fury (2014)
Schindler’s List (1993)
Oppenheimer (2023)
Cold War, Communism & Fear
Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Red Dawn (1984)
Bridge of Spies (2015)
The 1960s
Thirteen Days (2000)
JFK (1991)
October Sky (1999)
The Right Stuff (1983)
Easy Rider (1969)
The Graduate (1967)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
Civil Rights & Social Change
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Mississippi Burning (1988)
Selma (2014)
Forrest Gump (1994)
The Long Walk Home (1990)
Milk (2008)
Hidden Figures (2016)
Malcolm X (1992)
Vietnam & Watergate
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Platoon (1986)
Rescue Dawn (2006)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
The Fog of War (2003)
All the President’s Men (1976)
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
Contemporary Issues
Another Lens
Civic Movie Analysis Project, est. 2016
This assignment will challenge you to turn a critical eye toward a film of your choice, to find the implicit political message in a film or documentary. Your job is not to merely summarize the events of the movie; it is to support, investigate, challenge, validate or critique not only the facts of the film, but more importantly, the perspective on our system of government that is being presented to you, the viewer.
FILMS
Political Campaigns & Processes
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Advise and Consent (1962)
A Perfect Candidate (1996)
Recount (2008)
Game Change (2012)
Political Thrillers & Government Accountability
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
All the President's Men (1976)
Frost/Nixon (2008)
The Big Short (2015)
War, Military & Foreign Policy
American Courts
DOCUMENTARIES
Political Campaigns & Political Process
Government Accountability, Scandals & Regulatory Failings
Citizenfour (2014)
The Unknown Known (2013)
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
Inside Job (2010)
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
Too Big to Fail (2011)