The cinema has long been a place where we confront our biggest questions: Who are we? What will the future be like? What are we afraid of? Who are our heroes and heroines? What things lie beyond the physical world we inhabit? Filmmakers tackle these questions by creating evocative and relatable stories that explore the many facets of humanity we all share. For many of us, movies shape the way we see the world and our place within it. Unlike other mediums, film utilizes multiple art forms to immerse viewers in these stories, and music is a powerful tool that filmmakers use to guide our interpretation of ideas and emotions. Part historical survey and part analytical methodology, this class is designed to help students understand how they interpret film and music, and encourage them to explore the conventional gestures and cultural symbols that filmmakers use to communicate meanings. In addition to weekly reading assignments taken from contemporary scholarship, students will watch a movie from a curated list of Hollywood films produced over the last century. Together we will examine these films and discuss how they express ideas and influence our culture and identity. This will culminate in a formal speech and argumentative paper where each student will analyze and evaluate a Hollywood film of their choice. This class will give students a deeper appreciation and new perspective on films they know and love.