Explain how Americans learn their history from many sources besides courses taught by college history professors and books written by academic scholars. For much of the public, television and films exert a much greater influence on their views of the past than does the work of professional historians. Probably no current filmmaker has done more to shape popular attitudes toward recent U.S. history than has director Oliver Stone. Oliver Stone’s enormous influence raises important questions about the shaping of popular historical consciousness, the nature and uses of historical evidence, the differences between history and memory and between historical writing and historical films, and the nature and limits of artistic license. By examining Stone’s major films as both works of art and historical documents, this course will address these issues while assessing both scholarly opinion and popular beliefs about such topics as the meaning and legacy of the Cold War, the Kennedy administration and the Kennedy assassination, the Vietnam War from the perspectives of both soldiers and policymakers, the anti-Vietnam War movement, the 1960s counterculture, the life and presidency of Richard M. Nixon, U.S. policy in Central America, the emergence of talk radio as a major cultural force, 1980s capitalist culture, the proliferation of violence in modern life, the September 11 attacks, and the George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump presidencies. In writing papers, you must properly cite all sources (1) directly quoted, (2) paraphrased, or (3) consulted in any fashion. Sources include all printed material as well as the Internet. Proper citation means using a standard citation format: MLA, APA, or Chicago. Quoted and paraphrased material should be “sandwiched,” a clear beginning and ending to the material should be indicated by quotation marks, or, in paraphrases, by the source name at the beginning and the citation at the end. It is also considered plagiarism if you merely rework source material, placing an author’s thoughts in other words without contributing your own ideas. For that reason, you must include some kind of source note whenever drawing on someone else’s interpretation. A source note can be a sentence or more in your paper, or it can be a footnote. A source note should clarify the extent to which your interpretation is indebted to your source, explaining both (1) what you use and (2) where you depart or differ from the source. Instructions for the Paper: JFK is perhaps the most controversial film ever produced. The controversy it aroused led some critics, historians, and participants in the events described dismiss Oliver Stone as a conspiracy monger who deliberately misrepresents and distorts history. After having seen the film, read about the controversy and the Kennedy presidency, and listened to experts, what is your reaction to the controversy and the charges against Stone? Be sure to clearly state your understanding of why the film has produced such virulent attacks from its critics and whether you think they have a valid basis for their objections. In so doing, try to identify the film’s greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses. Write a 4-page (maximum, not including title page or bibliography), double-spaced essay, citing specific evidence (with proper attribution) from the film, the lectures, the class discussions, and ALL the relevant readings and speakers. These essays will be judged in part on the originality of your insights and your ability to defend your arguments with the most relevant evidence offered by the available sources. No outside research is expected or necessary. Be sure to support ALL your arguments and assertions with the BEST available evidence.
