Dr. Adam L. Porter @ Illinois College
In this class, we will first outline American “civil religion,” and think about how it developed, especially in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Once we have a vague idea about American myth, we will examine one way it is transmitted: popular films. We focus on popular films, since these films are seen by more people and thus have a greater impact on society than do “good” films that rarely are shown outside of art houses. We will examine how films use, modify, or allude to “civil religion” and elements of American mythology.