Sociology on Film: Postwar Hollywood's Prestige Commodity

After World War II, Hollywood’s “social problem films”—tackling topical issues that included racism, crime, mental illness, and drug abuse—were hits with critics and general moviegoers alike. Sociology on Film considers the postwar “problem film” as a form of popular sociology, translating contemporary policy debates and intellectual discussions into cinematic form. Examining the politics and aesthetics of films like Gentleman’s Agreement and The Lost Weekend, Chris Cagle explores how the genre both shaped and reflected the middle-class audience’s views of society.