America's 250th, As Seen Through Film

To commemorate the 250th anniversary year of U.S. independence, the Georgetown Democracy Initiative, the University of Notre Dame, and the Washington Political Film Foundation will host a viewing of a special film documenting the United States in film over the years. The viewing will be followed by a multi-campus discussion on U.S. democracy, the midterms, and the prospects for the United States' next 250 years.

Open to all Georgetown University students, faculty, and staff.

This event is sponsored by the Georgetown Democracy Initiative.

Program

5:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. | Act One — Looking Back

A retrospective on 250 years of American history. After introductions, the program begins with a 35-minute video presentation, using memorable scenes from the “Hollywood” prism of film, television, and streaming. Georgetown Democracy Initiative Director of Research Hans Noel and Georgetown University Assistant Professor Amanda d'Urso will offer their own interpretation of history and how it has been represented artistically, and creatively, “on film."

6:20 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Act Two — Looking Forward

In this part of the event, Georgetown University and the University of Notre Dame are linked live for a cross-campus conversation on U.S. democracy. This looks not only at the outcome of the midterms but the longer-term trajectory of U.S. politics and power - and the prospects for democracy, at home and abroad. Overhead screens carry split-screen feeds from both campuses, joining the rooms into one.