While it has traditionally studied the expressive behaviors of many other cultures around the globe, American anthropology has rarely used its tools of cultural analysis to look its own storytelling, especially as seen in mass-market Hollywood movies. This course will apply textual and contextual analysis, cross-cultural comparisons, mythological and symbolic approaches, and cognitive, linguistic and discourse analysis to look at the form, content and effects of popular movies. The last segment of the course will focus on the work of one filmmaker who seems to train an anthropological eye on the culture through his/her films. For Spring 2006 this will be the work of writer/artist/director Tim Burton (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands, Big Fish, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Beetlejuice).