Abstract
What Is Wrong. It is best to begin by clearing our minds of cant. The literature on and teaching of national cinemas need an overhaul. They frequently fail to consider the following key areas that should be prerequisites to any book or course on the subject: (1) the voluminous political and social history and social theory on the nation, nationalism, and national culture; (2) the empirical nature of the filmgoing experience in the countries discussed; (3) the role of television and video; (4) the significance of cultural policy; (5) the role of local cultural bourgeoisies; and (6) the condition of screen labor…