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Course Description

Summary

In this course, we will explore Hollywood’s fixation with fictional revolutions as depicted in big budget sci fi and fantasy films throughout the 20th and 21st century, often unified by themes such as the triumph of the underdog, traumatic but narratively low-stakes sacrifices, indigenous allyship, and totalitarian overlords who bear superficial resemblance to real world geopolitical powers, but who lack fidelity to historical actualities. Through screenings, readings, and discussion, we will track the core ideological functions of such fictional insurrections, while discussing and developing conflicting theories as to their purpose, both long and short term, manufactured as they are against a backdrop of the continued irresolution of real insurrections worldwide.  Of particular interest will be the co-evolution of the “successful revolution” narrative with the origins of cinema itself, mass media’s covert military and colonial histories, and the politics of representation.  We will look at Hollywood blockbusters such as Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dune, the Hunger Games, etc – but pair this with global artists, filmmakers and cultural thinkers invested in turning cultural narratives of revolution on their head.