Film plays an uncertain role shaping the contours of the political landscape and our collective understanding of political history. In this class, we will read about American politics and history as we watch documentaries and feature films. Students will gain an appreciation of the complex relationship between art and politics. Modern history and mythology take shape in darkened rooms where groups of strangers collectively laugh, cry and groan through cinema efforts like Dr. Strangelove, The Ugly American, and now Fahrenheit 9/11. Equally important are traditional documentaries, shown in schools and universities, or on PBS, that explicitly seek to provide direct access to audio and visual history. Films like The World at War, Atomic Café, Rosie the Riveter, and Eyes on the Prize exemplify some of the many approaches employed by documentary film makers.