Scorsese's Cinema of Loneliness This course explores the dynamic cinema of one of America’s foremost directors, with attention paid to the elements of autobiography at work in Scorsese’s films, as well as to the broader cultural critique he has developed. We examine how his films have been informed by profound questions about violence, alienation, faith, and genuine self-understanding (or self-delusion). Among the issues Scorsese confronts us with: How do we, as Americans, ultimately define community? Do our communities serve the personal or even spiritual needs of their members? Or are our individual frustrations and pathologies merely symptomatic of a broader failure to connect with one another? In this light, Scorsese’s films will be appraised, having brought into American popular culture a shared vocabulary for talking about the nature of freedom in America and the nature of responsibility in a criminal, absurd, or even fallen world. Our exploration will touch upon many films from Scorsese’s body of work, and will specifically cover the following: After Hours; Raging Bull; Mean Streets; and The Last Temptation of Christ.
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