Prerequisite(s): WRIT 106 or HONP 101. A historical overview of images of Italian Americans on the screen from the earliest years of cinema to the late 20th century, the course provides a background for the Italian experience in the U.S. and in particular in the NY-NJ area through a wide spectrum of films including silent, noir, drama, comedy, and documentaries, as well as a range of established and lesser known directors. While showing how Italian American film has established itself in the national canon, the course offers a number of critical tools for unpacking how ethnicity is represented and mediated in the film genre. It is designed for students who are interested in a critical analysis of popular films such as Goodfellas and The Godfather, curious about the historical evolution of on-screen images of Italian Americans from The Sheik starring Rudolph Valentino to Saturday Night Fever starring John Travolta, and looking for a reading of ethnic representation in classics such as Do The Right Thing and Kiss of Death. Taught in English. Satisfies Great Works/Influences GenEd requirement; satisfies SEEDS Literary and Artistic Analysis student learning outcome in alignment with Diversity and Intercultural Competency value.