Four Films That Changed America: The Jazz Singer, I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang, The Graduate, and Easy Rider

Login to Watch  

Duration 01:02:03

Yale University

Marc Lapadula is a Senior Lecturer in the Film Studies Program at Yale University. He is a playwright, screenwriter and an award-winning film producer. In addition to Yale, Marc has taught at Columbia University’s Graduate Film School, created the screenwriting programs at both The University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins–where he won Outstanding Teaching awards–and has lectured on British and American Theatre and playwriting. Lapadula has given highly acclaimed classic film lectures on a wide range of cinema topics across the country at notable venues, such as: The National Press Club, The Smithsonian Institution, The Commonwealth Club, The Cleveland Museum of Art, and The New York Historical Society.

Overview

Movies That Changed Public Opinion

While most works of cinema are produced for mass-entertainment and escapism, a peculiar minority have had a profound influence on our culture and changed society. Whether intentionally or not, some movies have brought social issues to light, changed laws, forwarded ideologies both good and bad, and altered the course of American history through their resounding impact on society. Renowned Yale Film Professor Marc Lapadula will discuss four films that, for better or worse, made their mark.

Movies That Changed Society

  • The Jazz Singer
  • I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang
  • The Graduate
  • Easy Rider

More About Movies That Changed American Culture

Learn more about our history by checking out other great videos at OneDayU, including ‘FDR & LBJ’, American Founders: What Are We Know’ & ‘Four Memorable Musicals That Changed Broadway’ all on-demand now.

Scroll to Top