SEMINAR PROFILE

A04 -
Work, Play, and Adulthood in American Movies

What constitutes the good life? What happens when individuals' notions of fulfillment collide with broad-based cultural assumptions about achievement and happiness? What are the markers of adulthood? What's gained and what's lost once childhood and adolescence end? Across the decades, American movies have examined such questions along with our collective attitudes toward work, leisure, pleasure and maturity. In this film history seminar, we will view movies from the early sound era onward and read works of social theory, history and philosophy in an effort to understand how popular culture narratives have framed -- and sometimes challenged -- those attitudes.

Scholar:

Julie Levinson

Location:

Harvard Hillel

Dates:

5/4/2017, 5/11/2017

A04 -	Work, Play, and Adulthood in American Movies

	What constitutes the good life? What happens when individuals' notions of fulfillment collide with broad-based cultural assumptions about achievement and happiness? What are the markers of adulthood? What's gained and what's lost once childhood and adolescence end? Across the decades, American movies have examined such questions along with our collective attitudes toward work, leisure, pleasure and maturity. In this film history seminar, we will view movies from the early sound era onward and read works of social theory, history and philosophy in an effort to understand how popular culture narratives have framed -- and sometimes challenged -- those attitudes.

		Scholar:	Julie Levinson
		Location:	Harvard Hillel
		Dates:	5/4/2017, 5/11/2017