Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a defining characteristic of German Expressionism in film?
What is a defining characteristic of German Expressionism in film?
How did F.W. Murnau's portrayal of Graf Orlok in 'Nosferatu' differ from traditional vampire depictions?
How did F.W. Murnau's portrayal of Graf Orlok in 'Nosferatu' differ from traditional vampire depictions?
What role did historical context play in the analysis of films according to the key concepts in film?
What role did historical context play in the analysis of films according to the key concepts in film?
Which film is considered a significant work of German Expressionism?
Which film is considered a significant work of German Expressionism?
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Which of the following filmmakers is NOT mentioned as a key figure in the evolution of photography into cinema?
Which of the following filmmakers is NOT mentioned as a key figure in the evolution of photography into cinema?
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What significant invention did Eadweard Muybridge introduce that aided in capturing motion?
What significant invention did Eadweard Muybridge introduce that aided in capturing motion?
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Which film did George Méliès direct that was notable for its blend of science fiction and narrative?
Which film did George Méliès direct that was notable for its blend of science fiction and narrative?
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What was a key contribution of Edwin Porter in early cinema?
What was a key contribution of Edwin Porter in early cinema?
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What was a significant reason for the loss of silent films according to early cinema history?
What was a significant reason for the loss of silent films according to early cinema history?
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Which of the following innovations is credited to Alice Guy-Blaché?
Which of the following innovations is credited to Alice Guy-Blaché?
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What role did Alice Guy-Blaché hold at Gaumont?
What role did Alice Guy-Blaché hold at Gaumont?
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What did Eadweard Muybridge's horse photography prove?
What did Eadweard Muybridge's horse photography prove?
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By what year did cinema exhibit rapid growth, reaching approximately 5,000 cinemas in North America?
By what year did cinema exhibit rapid growth, reaching approximately 5,000 cinemas in North America?
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Who is credited with creating the first pinhole camera?
Who is credited with creating the first pinhole camera?
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Which early figure is known for having the first successful permanent image on a metal plate?
Which early figure is known for having the first successful permanent image on a metal plate?
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What was the exposure time for Daguerre's daguerreotype?
What was the exposure time for Daguerre's daguerreotype?
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Which of the following processes is known for producing blueprints?
Which of the following processes is known for producing blueprints?
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What innovation allowed for the mass production of postcards, impacting photography's popularity?
What innovation allowed for the mass production of postcards, impacting photography's popularity?
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Which early photographer is often referred to as the first photographer for his conceptual breakthroughs?
Which early photographer is often referred to as the first photographer for his conceptual breakthroughs?
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What kind of image does an Ambrotype produce?
What kind of image does an Ambrotype produce?
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Which process used glass plates as part of its photographic technique?
Which process used glass plates as part of its photographic technique?
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Study Notes
Early Photography
- Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) was a mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who created the first pinhole camera (camera obscura) in the 11th century.
- Johann Heinrich Schulze (1717) discovered that silver salts darkened when exposed to sunlight, capturing cut-out letters on a bottle of light-sensitive slurry.
- Thomas Wedgwood (1800) created impermanent "shadow images" (photograms), often referred to as the "first photographer" for his conceptual breakthroughs.
- Joseph Nicephore Niepce (1826) achieved the first successful permanent image on a metal plate (pewter) with an exposure time of approximately 8 hours.
- William Henry Fox Talbot (1835) created the first image on paper.
- Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre developed the daguerreotype, a highly polished silver plate sensitized with iodine vapors to capture images (exposure time: 20 minutes). His first successful daguerreotype was produced in 1837, and by 1853, over three million were made annually in North America.
- Camera Obscura is a darkened box, tent, or room with a small hole that reproduces external scenes inverted and reversed, preserving color and perspective.
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Key Innovations in Photography:
- Calotype: Early process using paper coated with silver iodide.
- Cyanotype: Produces blueprints.
- Collodion Wet Plate: Photographic process using glass plates.
- Ambrotype: Positive image on glass.
- Tin Type: Positive photograph on thin metal.
- Carte-de-visite (1848) were the first mass-produced postcards, leading to a surge in photography popularity and celebrity photographers.
- Rosalie Sofie Sjöman became a highly regarded portrait photographer in Stockholm in the mid-1860s.
### Early Cinema
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Pioneers in Motion Photography:
- Eadweard Muybridge invented a shutter that allowed the capture of motion. In 1877, he conducted a series of sequential photographs of a horse in motion to settle a bet about horse gait. This demonstrated that all four hooves could leave the ground.
- Persistence of Vision is the eye/brain's ability to retain an image briefly, enabling the development of motion pictures.
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Early Filmmaking:
- George Méliès, a pioneering filmmaker, blended science, entertainment, playful storytelling, and special effects. He created "A Trip To The Moon," integrating illusion and narrative in film.
- Edwin Porter directed "The Great Train Robbery” (1903). It was notable for its complex storytelling, editing, production values, including real-time vs. cinematic time, camera movement, and color.
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Film Exhibition Growth:
- The first cinema in Europe opened in 1897; North America followed in 1902.
- Rapid growth ensued: 1,000 cinemas by 1905 and 5,000 by 1908.
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Film Loss and Preservation:
- 80-90% of silent films are lost due to neglect and historical documentation issues. This loss also represents lost contributions to film history, highlighting the importance of archival preservation.
Alice Guy-Blaché (1894-1920)
- Hired as a secretary for a camera manufacturing company, she became a pioneering filmmaker, directing, producing, and overseeing more than 700 films; generally considered the first to systematically develop narrative film.
- Served as Gaumont's head of production from 1896 to 1906, making notable films such as "The Life of Christ" (1906).
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Innovations:
- One of the first to use audio recordings in conjunction with film (Gaumont's "Chronophone").
- Employed special effects techniques, including double exposure and masking.
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Legacy:
- Co-founded The Solax Company in 1910, one of the largest pre-Hollywood studios.
- Directed over 1,000 films, with 350 surviving today, many in poor condition.
- Subject of a National Film Board of Canada documentary titled "The Lost Garden: The Life and Cinema of Alice Guy-Blaché."
Key Concepts in Film
- Imagery = Emotion
- Historical Context: Essential for analyzing films.
- Art as Politics / Politics as Art
German Expressionism (1920s)
- A cinematic movement reflecting the inner conflicts of its 1920s German audience through visual distortion and hyper-expressive performances.
- "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1919) was directed by Robert Wiene and characterized by twisted, fantastical visuals and unique use of light and shadow.
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Notable Films and Techniques:
- F.W. Murnau's "Nosferatu" is known for its innovative use of color palette, production design, shadow, and geometric shapes. Murnau's portrayal of Graf Orlok as a nightmarish, spidery creature marked a significant departure from traditional vampire depictions and influenced later filmmakers, including Tim Burton.
Conclusion
- The evolution of photography into cinema represents a remarkable journey of innovation, artistic expression, and the impact of historical context on the visual arts.
- Key figures like Daguerre, Méliès, and Guy-Blaché played crucial roles in shaping these mediums.
- Understanding these early developments enhances appreciation for contemporary film and photography.
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