COMM369

Quintessentially American ideas of social mobility, freedom to satirize, and celebration of the underdog -- to name just a few -- have helped Anglo-American and immigrant artists produce a unique brand of filmed comedy, from Mack Sennett to Billy Wilder and Judd Apatow. This course will examine the rich tapestry of American film comedy and the social, historical, and technological factors that made it possible, from its birth in silent cinema to the present.