Unit 1B Lecture Notes on the History and Art of Cinema

  • Introduction to Cinema

    • This lecture corresponds to Unit 1B of the module.
    • Format: each week, the lecture is divided into Units A and B, varying in length.
    • Technical quality of Canvas presentations is noted as lesser than in-person classes.

  • Defining Cinema

    • Cinema is derived from the term "cinematography."
    • In the US, "cinematography" pertains to camera-related aspects (e.g., lenses, film stock).
    • Internationally, it refers to the art of cinema itself.
    • Origin: Greek words "ciner" (movement) and "graphio" (to write).
    • Cinematography: "writing with movement" (as photography is "writing with light").
    • Cinema is the art of moving images that tells stories and reveals reality, a recent art form developed since the 19th century.
    • It is a collaborative and costly art. No other artistic medium requires as much investment as filmmaking.
    • The connection to photography is emphasized, which preceded cinema.

  • Historical Forerunners of Cinema

    • Magic Lantern:
    • Introduced in the 17th century; a primitive slide projector creating the illusion of movement.
    • Zoetrope:
    • A hollow drum with images along its interior; creates movement by spinning and letting viewers look through slits.
    • Origin: Greek terms "zoe" (life) and "tropos" (turning).
    • Edward Muybridge:
    • Conducted Series Photography experiments, capturing motion in a series of images.
    • Famous for proving that a galloping horse's hooves all leave the ground at once.
    • Developed the Zoopraxiscope to exhibit his motion studies.

  • The Birth of Motion Pictures

    • The film industry as we know it wasn't created by a single individual, but collaboratively by multiple creators across various regions.
    • Étienne-Jules Marey:
    • Introduced the Chromophotographic Gun (1882), capturing several images in one go, enhancing the illusion of motion.
    • George Eastman:
    • Introduced celluloid film (1889), standardizing film widths (e.g., 35 mm).
    • Established Eastman Kodak, leading to mass availability of film.
    • Kodak struggled with the digital revolution but continues to produce film for filmmakers preferring traditional methods.

  • Lumière Brothers:

    • Introduced the Cinématographe which was both a camera and projector, leading to the first commercial film screenings on December 28, 1895.
    • Their work focused on capturing everyday life (e.g., "Exiting the Factory").
    • Their film "Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat" shocked audiences due to its immersive realism.

  • Georges Méliès:

    • A stage magician who pioneered fictional storytelling in film after witnessing the Lumières' projection techniques.
    • Developed special effects (e.g., stop motion) leading to narrative storytelling through fantasy, exemplified in his work "A Trip to the Moon."

  • Innovations in Early Cinema

    • Edwin S. Porter:
    • Introduced parallel editing in films like "Life of an American Fireman" and "The Great Train Robbery," illustrating tension through varied perspectives.
    • The audience's reaction to these innovations shows the transformation of cinema into an art form capable of storytelling and dramatic effects.
    • The first dedicated movie theaters, or Nickelodeons, emerged after the introduction of the Vitascope by Edison, which allowed for group viewings of films.

  • Cinematic Techniques Develop

    • Camera movement begins to be used for dramatic effect, paralleling action sequences.
    • Techniques like double exposure and the implementation of the handheld camera create new storytelling methods.

  • Legacy and Impact:

    • The lecture discusses the evolution of cinema from simple captures of everyday life to complex storytelling via special effects.
    • The technological and artistic advancements initiated in early cinema set the groundwork for contemporary filmmaking practices.