Novelty Era (1893-1897)

  • A period characterized by experimentation and the development of new film technologies.
  • Spectators divided their attention between moving images and the machines used for projection.
  • New technologies sparked curiosity and wonder about moving images.

Edison’s Contributions

  • In late 1888, Thomas Edison announced he was developing a technology to "do for the eye what the phonograph does for the ear," focusing on the recording and reproduction of motion.
  • In May 1893, Edison demonstrated moving pictures for the first time to scientists at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.
  • Films showcased were recorded solely to demonstrate the kinetoscope's dynamic ability to record and reproduce motion.
  • Action needed to be dynamic, showcasing movement that impacted real space and time.
  • Films often featured Edison employees, particularly Dickson and Heise, to lend authenticity, establishing that recorded actions were genuine instances of real-life events.

Profitability through Performance

  • To profit from the kinetoscope, Edison began filming popular vaudeville performers to attract audiences.
  • Notable performers included Eugen Sandow, Annie Oakley, and Annabelle Moore.

Entertainment Attractions (Late 19th - Early 20th Century)

  • The American public was attracted to:
    1. Entertainment featuring new technologies (e.g., World’s Fairs).
    2. Variety and spectacle in entertainment forms (e.g., Vaudeville theater).
    3. Violent thrills and sensory attractions (e.g., amusement parks).

Vaudeville Theatre

  • Defined as live variety stage shows lasting about an hour with diverse live acts, including:
    • Musical and vocal performances
    • Dance numbers
    • One-act plays and slapstick comedy
    • Magic lantern slide shows and moving pictures
  • Vaudeville allowed audience members to pay a single price for a variety of attractions, enabling repeat visits during performances.

Edison’s Theatrical Marvel: The Vitascope

  • Developed by Thomas Armat, the Vitascope was a motion picture projector that debuted in NYC at Koster and Bial's in April 1896.

Characteristics of Early Films (1894-1896)

  • These films typically featured:
    1. A single shot displaying a brief performance or act.
    2. A static camera, with unchanging framing throughout the shot.
    3. Lack of resolution or closure; the film would simply stop or the actors would exit the frame upon completion of the act.

Lumière Cinématographe

  • A pivotal hand-cranked, lightweight, portable moving picture camera that doubled as a projector.
  • Debuted in Paris on December 28, 1895.

Actualités

  • Non-fiction films shot at notable locations, capturing everyday life, street scenes, and significant events.
  • Contrasted Edison’s original studio-bound approach, the Lumières took their camera into the world, expanding audience access to various life scenes.

The Exhibition of Everyday Life

  • During the novelty phase, films focused on scenes of familiar and mundane life, transforming them into intriguing visual experiences through motion.
  • Initial films served to showcase the technology itself, fostering curiosity about how filmmaking apparatus functioned.
  • Projectionists initially provided lectures alongside screenings, which elaborated on the technology's workings and the filmmaking process.
  • Films included unusual sights, famous performers, topical subjects, and scenes of everyday life to capture audience interest.

Lecture Two: Theoretical Framework

  • Focus on the cinema as an attraction, distancing from narrative centrality and emphasizing spectacle.
  • Tom Gunning’s thesis: Early cinema should be evaluated as an attraction that highlights novelty and display rather than storytelling.
  • Early films included various spectacle forms, from current events to arranged gags.

Cinema of Attractions Characteristics

  1. Short non-narrative films based on novelty and surprise.
    • Aim to provoke astonishment rather than immerse spectators into a narrative.
  2. Spectacle dominates story; narratives exist only as pretexts for visual display.
  3. Presentation style is direct and exhibitionist, often involving direct address of the audience by performers.
  4. Films exhibit discontinuous temporality focusing on the present.

Peephole Films

  • Genre focusing on the act of looking, often utilizing keyholes or devices to bring curiosities into view.

Trick Films

  • Films employing techniques such as stop motion and special effects to create displays.
    • Examples include matte shots, stop-motion substitution, and dissolves.

Story Films Emergence (1902)

  • Integrating spectacle with narrative, yet still prioritizing visual attraction.
  • Distinction made by whether rearranging film segments disrupts narrative logic.

Continuity in Film

  • Defined as a coherent and smooth progression of shots and scenes without confusion.

Nickelodeon Era

  • The first nickelodeon opened in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1905, marking an evolution in cinema exhibition.
  • Nickelodeons specialized in moving pictures and would typically seat 300-400 patrons, charging five cents for viewing.
  • Continuous programming throughout the day enabled patrons to enter at any time and watch films repeatedly.
  • Live accompaniment and a lecturer enhanced viewing experiences.
  • Initially attracted working-class, immigrant, and urban poor audiences.

Impact of Nickelodeons on Film Industry

  1. Created an unprecedented demand for new films, necessitating rapid production cycles.
  2. Prompted the standardization of production practices.
  3. Acquired a negative reputation associated with societal vices and illness.

City Closures in 1908

  • Mayor McClellan’s order to close all nickelodeons in New York City due to concerns about morality and public safety, emphasizing the perceived dangers presented by nickelodeon shows.

Gunning's Historiography

  1. Attraction as the primary focus of early cinema rather than narrative.
  2. Interrelationship between attraction and narrative forms.

Innovative Film Techniques

  • Explored earlier cinematic forms and techniques characterizing the era's filmmaking landscape, such as cross-cutting, serial film narratives, and a focus on crafting coherent film stories throughout the period leading up to the classical era.

Studio System Formation

  • The factory-style production method adopted by Hollywood during its classical era (circa 1917-1960).
  • Paramount's influence with figures such as Adolf Zukor becoming prominent within the studio system.

Narratives and Spectatorship in Classical Film

  • Character-centric narratives with conflicts leading towards resolutions, character development, and romance are dominant in storytelling.
  • The design of films targeted spectator absorption into the cinematic experience through meticulously coordinated elements of continuity, style, and storytelling

Rise of the Star System

  • The emergence of film icons like Florence Lawrence and their impact on film publicity, shaping audience perception around movie personalities.

Cultural Changes Post WWI

  1. Youth culture post-war saw shifts in moral and social values, prioritizing leisure, and pursuits of pleasure.
  2. Public perception of wealth transitioned into an aspirational goal rather than a taboo.
  3. The 1920 suffrage movement empowered women in political and societal domains.

Hollywood’s Symbolism of Postwar Morality

  1. Lavish lifestyles highlighted scandals that plagued the industry.
  2. Backlash from public and religious groups led to increased censorship and public relations efforts.
  3. The establishment of the MPPDA to govern film standards began the formalization of the Production Code, regulating content to align with moral criteria.

Influence of Orientalism and Japonisme

  • Orientalism creates biased perceptions of Asian cultures through myths utilized to contrast Western identity.
  • Japonisme: the influence of Japanese culture permeating Western aesthetics in various domains.