Our course will require two textbooks that we will use extensively throughout the semester. One is a general history of American film that I hope you will find useful beyond this class. The other is an collection of essays specific about the economic history of American cinema.
The required books are as follows:
- Lewis, Jon. American Film: A History
. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008.
- Balio, Tino. The American Film Industry
, Revised Ed. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1985.
In addition, I am recommending that all students buy the following two books:
- Slide, Anthony. The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry
. 2nd Ed. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2001.
- Gomery, Douglas. The Hollywood Studio System: A History
. London: BFI Publishing, 2008.
Please buy these books as soon as possible. I know that buying books can be a financial burden for some, but consider this a necessary expense such as tuition and room and board. The books are available on reserve at Rosenthal Library, and you can easily find used copies at many vendors, including the bookstore. The above links will take you to Amazon
