As Reagan takes office, the 1980s finds the art-adverse corporate mindset and blockbuster mentality setting in within the Hollywood studio system, taking a definitive step away from the daring provocations of '70s cinema. While studio box-office hits portray a nation that is neon-lit, new wave-y and upwardly mobile, the fringes of U.S. filmmaking present a more nuanced and critical perspective on American life in the 1980s.

In this class, we'll explore the histories & production of these independent features, the technique and strategies of the filmmakers, what the films might reveal about the era and what their relevance is to modern audiences. Be prepared for a spirited post-screening discussion.

Films to be screened:
ATLANTIC CITY (1980, directed by Louis Malle)
SEVENTEEN (1983, directed by Joel DeMott & Jeff Kreines)
BLESS THEIR LITTLE HEARTS (1984, directed by Billy Woodberry)
DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION II (1988, directed by Penelope Spheeris)

• Participants must have a valid Fleisher membership.