The Origins of American Independent Cinema

Join Professor Andre Puca for a deep dive into the history of American independent cinema, from the 1950s to the 1970s. 

Over the course of five weeks, we’ll look at some of the defining films of this era—such as Charles Burnett’s Killer of Sheep (pictured above)—and scrutinize the ways in which they deviate from or depend upon conventional, traditional or standard American (read: Hollywood) filmmaking practices. Using Jonas Mekas’s Film Culture essays and manifestos as a discussion guide, we’ll also explore whether “independence” refers primarily to a production model or to an artistic vision. This is an exciting opportunity to explore some of the lesser-known but highly influential films and filmmakers that shaped the American independent film landscape. 

Class dates: five consecutive Thursdays, from August 4 - September 1

Time: 6:30 - 9pm

ABOUT ANDRE PUCA

Andre Puca received his B.A. in English from Cornell University, after which he earned his MFA in Film Studies from Boston University. He is a Senior Affiliated Faculty member at Emerson College, where he teaches courses on film and media studies. He has also taught film studies courses at Babson College as a Visiting Lecturer and presented papers at a number of film studies conferences in the U.S. At the Coolidge, he has led classes and seminars on Federico Fellini, Alfred Hitchcock, Italian Neorealism, the Iranian New Wave, and more.