Remove the forces of fame and celebrity from today’s culture and the world is unrecognizable. With the introduction of mass media—photography, radio, film and newspapers—stardom went from an incidental element in marketing, to the engine driving everything from politics and sexuality to fashion, art and even our dreams. Beginning with the dawn of the movies, Starstruck will offer a panoramic journey through the global dominion of celebrity over the past century—from the rise of the Hollywood star system, to the intermingling of celebrity and politics, and the role the internet plays in hard-wiring the idea of celebrity into our brains. From Bogart and Bergman, Mick and Marilyn, to Oprah and Obama, this series will show you fame like you’ve never seen or thought about it before.

This lecture series is presented by film writer Geoff Pevere, who has been writing, teaching and broadcasting about movies, media and popular culture for more than 30 years. A former film critic with The Toronto Star and regular contributor to The Globe and Mail, he runs thebigshadow.com, a website devoted to the depiction of crime in pop culture.

Six-week course: $63 (Members: $54, $42, Free)  Single class: $21 (Members: $17, $14, Free)

Sponsored by Hollywood Suite