It has become a commonplace in cultural discussion in the last half century to recognize the power of film as a significant shaper of American society and its values.
This popular annual lecture, delivered over a dozen times a year for over ten years, seeks to understand this phenomenon and make a case for the Academy Award nominees for best picture as both a barometer and a shaper of current American moral and intellectual standards.
After briefly introducing and analyzing each of the films, Dr. Trotter looks at common themes expressed in them and relates those ideas to societal norms and questions present in America today.