Includes bibliographical references and index.

Films provide a window into our society. What do recent films like In the Valley of Elah, Stop-Loss, and The Hurt Locker really say about the war in Iraq? Does the popularity of fantasy-based movies like Spiderman and the Harry Potter series mean American are suffering from escapism? In this most recent update to American Film and Society since 1945, the authors expand upon earlier editions by adding films previously neglected, and broaden their analysisof a number of films by discussing how these works capture the mood and values of American society in a particular decade. Interpretation of films can involve direct connections with social and political issues, but often deal with the important subtext of dreams, desires, and displacements that the Amnerican public feels. Recent films that present gay relationships and politics, such as Brokeback Mountain and Milk, and that address race relations and urban life, like Crash and Precious, are examined. This fourth edition also addresses change in the modern film industry such as convergence and the digital revolution. -- from dust jacket.

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