Histoire du Cinéma : Repères

Study Notes

Histoire du Cinéma : Repères

Historiographie: The study of cinema history is complex, encompassing art, industry, and media aspects. It examines the social context, public perception, propaganda, and the medium's reflection of society, including examples like Le Dictateur and its relation to World War II.
Different Historical Perspectives: There is a variety of interpretations of cinema history, influenced by the personal experiences and viewpoints of historians. This variety reflects different eras and sensitivities.
Historical Research in Cinema: Research remains active, uncovering new discoveries, often focusing on the contributions of women, who were previously underrepresented. Examples include the contributions of women in film roles previously held by men and the previously underestimated insights of women throughout film history.
Early Figures in Film: Important early figures in the history of film, such as Mary Pickford, and Frances Marion, were influential in shaping the early development of Hollywood.

The Invention of Cinema

Pre-Cinema Diversions: 19th-century entertainments, such as the magic lantern, are considered precursors to cinema, influencing the development of visual storytelling. They included shadow plays, (e.g., La Marseillaise by Jean Renoir), and the use of visual effects such as lights, projections, and images (e.g. the magic lantern).
Early Moving Image Technologies: The thaumatrope, phenakistiscope, zoetrope, and praxinoscope were early technologies that experimented with creating the illusion of movement in images. The folioscope was another precursor of these technologies.
Photography and Chronophotography: The invention of photography by Nicéphore Niépce paved the way for methods of capturing sequences of moving images and eventually led to the development of cinematography. Technological advancements continued to refine the process allowing for improved image clarity and reproducibility of movie stills. Chronophotography used plates to capture sequential images, aiding researchers studying movement.
Early Filmmakers and Devices: Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince, the Lumière brothers, and Thomas Edison and William Dickson were key figures in developing film technologies. Key early devices included the kintoscope and the kinétograph.
The Lumière Cinématographe: The Lumière cinematograph was a crucial film device that allowed for the projection of moving images, marking a significant turning point in the development of cinema and its widespread adoption (e.g. 1895 projection)

The Expansion of Cinema

Early Competition: The Edison Company and others initially competed with the Lumière brothers, leading to a period where film development was contested through patents and other legal maneuvers.
Gaumont and Pathé: Gaumont and Pathé emerged as significant figures, leading to the rapid spread and popularity of cinema and contributing to its further development as a medium.
Film Production as a Business: Early film production and distribution quickly developed into a business sector.
Early Film Style: The early films (e.g. Arrival of the train; Salida de la fábrica Lumière) often focused on simple displays of daily life situations, featuring the use of the camera, lighting, composition.

Various Techniques and Styles

Early Film Techniques: The development of early cinema featured various techniques such as the use of the camera, composition, and lighting and the creation of stories, characters, and plots. Early films relied on simple shots and stories aimed at a large audience.
Early Film Themes: Early film themes tended to feature an emphasis on visual spectacle and narrative storytelling.