This course offers students an overview of the medium's development from its inception to the present. Students view a series of films representative of various film historical periods and cultures (American, European, Asian, Australian, African). Lectures and class discussion place these films in their production contexts (ideological, social, economic, industrial, technological) and compare them to other films of their period. Given this perspective, students, may probe the films and filmmakers' contributions to the development of cinematic language or innovations in film style.