A film blog for students of my classes at Santa Clara University. Use this blog to discuss the films we are studying, classic films, current releases or production issues you encounter while making your own films.
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Why film?
Why do you think American audiences were so drawn to film in its early form?
I personally think American audiences were so drawn to film in its early form because it was a new, innovative technology.I think their captivation with early film is similar to the way we have embraced (and have been so consumed) with new technologies such as cell phones, the Internet, and computer technology. It's exciting when something new comes along that changes the way we can see the world. The illusion of movement through a picture was something completely different from the still photos everyone had previously been exposed to; they could finally see the human form in motion through an artistic medium. Moreover, there were obviously a handful of individuals within that American audience that were so drawn to early film because they saw it as a marketable technology. They were able to see the potential of film as an industry and were drawn by the lure of business and money. Overall, I think the way early audiences embraced film is definitely relatable to the way we are all drawn to new technologies that have the potential to change the world.
I believe that Americans fell in love with film in its early form not only because it was a new technology that intrigued audiences with visual appeal especially with the introduction of pictures with sound and color. I think the stronger reasoning for why the American audience was so drawn to film was the experience of watching them together, which quickly became the very popular American past time in the 1950-1960s, with drive ins and theaters, that are still very popular now. The American public's fascination came not only from the actual films and the content that opened imaginations and engaged all ages, American cinema is held with high social relevance in our culture due to stories that are passed on throughout the ages that either defines the American story and it's view of the world.
I think that our fascination with film in its earliest stage originated in an element of magic; the art of a visual and psychological illusion that allows us to perceive a sequence of fixed images as a single moving piece. We call it persistence of vision and the phi phenomenon now, but the reason for our ability to see continuous motion when in fact we are watching a sequence of separate integers has never been completely explained. When films first came out, no matter how choppy and jerky the footage was, we would have been drawn to the novelty and surprise of moving pictures. People were supposed to have jumped out of the way from the Lumiere Brothers’ L’Arrivée d’un train en gare de La Ciotat. Actualités, no matter how mundane a subject, must have been still been new, because of the revolutionary platform on which they were performed. We developed cinematography at first to capture movement for physiological purposes (Marey’s chronophotographic gun) and I think some of that interest was retained in early films: they were studies of movement. I think in a way we also loved them because cinematography was developed on the tail end of the Realism art movement. We wanted to create an "objective reality" and film was a perfect platform. You had the tableaux and composition of classic art with an extra dimension that included movement.
Film and motion picture in its early form was a completely new and compelling way of entertainment. One of the reasons of its success was its novelty. People have never seen anything like that before. It was a magical box that managed to make still pictures alive and, in the later years, even tell a story. Because the film industry was developing so rapidly, audience was presented with new forms and styles of film on a regular basis and the novelty of it never got old. Nevertheless, it is not only the technical part of the film that kept the audience so engaged with it. Film was also a new way to tell stories and influence the public. These stories and how they made the audience feel was one of the main reasons why film became so popular. From its early stages, motion picture was able to make people laugh, cry as well as live through the character’s story. Even now, more than a century after film was first invented it is still one of the most popular ways of entertainment; mainly because there is still so much to explore and create. Most of the people who want to work in the film industry nowadays are looking to be a part of something what, at first sight, seem very old, yet is still very magical and mysterious. I do not believe (at least I would like to hope so) this mystery will ever be solved and the enchantment of film will never wear off. The invention of digital (although some may argue that digital killed film as we knew it) allowed filmmakers introduce better special effects and tell their stories in the way that they were never able to before. Some may say that digital is a step back in both quality of the image and storytelling. However, I believe sometimes one needs to make a step back in order to move forward and I am very excited to see what the new digital era has to offer.
In its earliest form, American film was simply the viewing of basic, everyday human activities (i.e. passengers boarding a train, factory workers leaving for lunch, etc.). These early films were interesting to American viewers mainly because they were fascinated by the fact that they could see themselves moving and interacting on screen. I believe that the introduction of storytelling to early films is what drew audiences in further. Being able to see stories of common American interactions (like the Lumieres' video of the parents feeding their baby) was an exciting concept. Ultimately, the storytelling aspect of America's first films is definitely what drew in early audiences.
I agree with the previous points made that American were drawn to film in its early form because it was a new technology. People became fascinated with the moving pictures, no matter how simplistic, because it had never been done before. The films that we watched in class, the 'Actualities' were really just people walking and doing simple activities, but the fact that they were able to watch themselves through a new medium captured attention of the masses. Even in the earliest films, there was an inclination to start showing narratives. The potential of film being popular entertainment was seen almost immediately. This was a new way to communicate, share, and influence large groups of people. As discussed in class, the evolution of the film becoming a narrative advanced quickly because filmmakers realized that moving pictures can captivate an audience, but they wanted to figure out ways to keep them captivated. So, the technologies and stories continued to advance while the audience followed along, remaining engaged. In the reading, cinema was described as "the first communications medium to be based on psychoperceptual illusions created by machines." This new medium launched an obsession with watching these illusions tell stories as well as an obsession with the technologies responsible for the illusions.
I think the initial attraction to film in its earliest stages was just out of awe for the technology. The ability to take a moving snapshot of a moment in time is a technology that boggles the mind. It must have been nearly incomprehensible to audiences at the time that technology was first emerging. Simply watching a video of crowds walking was worth paying money to see. However, I think what really captured the attention of the public was the stories that film were able to tell. Audiences could see people just like them on screen telling stories that made them feel a variety of emotions. In the earliest stages, the Lumiere brothers took videos of everyday scenes from around the world. These simple shots allowed the audience to feel a sense of connection with other humans and they recognized themselves in the shots. That same idea is another reason why people were so fascinated by film and why they still pay to see movies today. Watching a film with a room of people and sharing that experience together gives a feeling that humans crave: community. I read an article that called the movies the modern day secular cathedral. At first I was confused by this comparison, but as I read the author’s reasoning, I couldn’t help but agree with his statement. He said we go to the movies to:
1. To expand our emotional bandwith – to feel sensations that we rarely experience in our normal lives. 2. To reconnect with our higher selves – to be reminded of what humans are capable of, in terms of both good and evil, and to alter course if we’re steering more towards the latter than the former. 3. To be reminded we’re not alone – that by the collective reaction of others in the audience we realise that we are not the only ones wrestling with life’s eel.
Movies allow us to have a place to help us deal with all of the problems we face in life. Whether that is because we see other people dealing with the same issues on screen, or whether it is because they take us to a fictional world that allow us to step away from our problems temporarily--they offer us a cathartic space that keep us coming back for more.
I agree with the previous comments about audiences being attracted to early film because of its inherent value of being a new technology, as well as film having a magical component and being a spectacle in and of itself. All these ideas are valid; however, I think a more obvious reason would be that film was a form of escapism for early audiences. One could pay a few cents at the nickelodeon to watch a spectacle and, however briefly, escape from their daily lives, especially as news centered around the great war in Europe. I think the human mind is prone to distraction, which is why film in its early form captivated audiences from the beginning. Additionally, audiences flocked to theaters to take shelter from the realties of the wars and violence taking place throughout the world and being announced in daily newspapers.
I think another reason for why American audiences were drawn to early films is that films were a permanent record and could be seen time and time again. For once, audiences could re-create an experience by watching the film as many times as they liked. Watching a film is not the same as looking at a static photograph. Watching a film is like taking a journey with the film's characters, and for once this journey and all its emotions could be recreated.
Similar to the previous comments, I agree that American audiences were fascinated by film in its early form because it was a new and exciting technology. Film also presented limitless possibilities and could be improved upon or altered each time. For example, when we were watching the Lumiere Brother’s Actualities, in class on Tuesday, we watched as the narrative progressed with each take; the first shots were just of people walking in two different directions leaving work, but then there is a narrative progression, with the boy kinking the hose and the man getting angry and scolding the boy. As stated in the reading, the Lumieres called their films “actualities or documentary views, where the camera and the point of view were static. It seemed as thought they believed editing reality was unthinkable. I believe watching these scenes of unedited “reality” initially intrigued people. For the first time they could re-watch their actions and movements. I also agree with the previous post that discusses the theory of escapism, where people could go to the Nickelodeon and take time to themselves to escape their own reality. They were able to watch someone else’s reality instead. Here they could either place themselves into the films or feel better about their own situations. As a new technology, film allowed people to create narratives/stories that they had only ever read or dreamed about. It opened up new doors and endless possibilities for the future of entertainment.
Early films captured the attention of Americans as a new and technologically advanced form of entertainment that was unlike anything else. Film could capture a story and allow directors and producers to be creative with content and a plot that would keep the interest of the viewers. Even the early silent films brought stories to life with the power of a moving image. Films were intriguing because the industry could be lead in so many directions and bring great success to those involved in the film: the producers, directors, actors, etc. I am sure the aspect of money was also a huge reason why so many people wanted to be a part of the booming film industry. In addition, the social aspect of a film probably also excited Americans because they could watch films together and have it be an experience of entertainment. The film industry in its earliest form was obviously something new and exciting that Americans wanted to be a part of, and it still proves to be one of the most successful and inspiring industries in America today.
I think my peers make some valid points about the technological and “magical” intrigue that the American audience had with early film. I would emphasize Leah’s last point about film being a permanent record of the realties of everyday life. The author uses a quote from La Poste describing the “novelty and ingenuity of the apparatus” (cinematographe) and it’s ability to make death no longer absolute. Early film could capture more than just a moment in time; it could recreate the real actions, gestures and emotions of a scene, which could be watched again and again, giving film this eternal quality that no one had experienced before.
Film also gave way to a new form of communication that bypassed language, and directly communicated with the audience through senses and emotion. Any person, literate or not, could watch a film and understand what was being communicated. I think American audiences were particularly drawn to film for this reason because they could relate to the actions they saw being projected, many of which had to do with the developments occurring around them, like industrialization and modernization.
The reason I think Americans were attracted to this new form of entertainment because it was different and magical. Unlike theater entertainment these motion pictures also took place in the real world, so it gave the audience a rare opportunity to look their society from an medium previously thought impossible. Similar to the way we lined up around corners when the new iphone came out; this new technology was exciting and provided an escape from everyday life. The potential for this technology was unbelievable comparable to previous inventions like the printing press.
I think that audiences were drawn to film in its early form because people love to be entertained and investigate new technologies. It is no different than today when new technology gets released, for example the iphone, Ipad, or similar, people flock to consume the latest and greatest. In it's early stages, film was a never before seen technology that amazed audiences, and everyone wanted to watch and learn about the exciting new phenomenon. I think that a little later on people wanted to be involved because of the money aspect, but initially I believe that people were enthralled by a new form of entertainment. It is hard to imagine today, as this generation has been raised with so many forms of entertainment that we lose count. We have to remember that back then, this invention was extraordinarily novel and interesting.
I think Americans were fascinated by film because it was a new medium for them to observe and analyze themselves. The first film we viewed in class was just people walking off of a train. In the beginning, the technology of film was more interesting than what was being filmed. People were fascinated the idea of watching themselves on a screen. And if not themselves, people who were like them. Film appealed strongly to the lower class first because it did not require a specific knowledge or language in order to be able to understand the film. One simply had to be able to open their eyes. I also think it was the realism that drew people to film. The Lumiere brothers even called their films “actualities,” and wished to document life as it was happening. Film offered a unique chance for people to re-experience life. Life as they experienced it themselves, or life as they wished they could experience it. Film was a way for people to re-experience what they wish they could re-experience. While also, giving people the opportunity to experience things they couldn’t, like a trip to the moon. Both were things that were mostly impossible before film, especially for lower class people who did not have access to the theater or did not know how to read.
As many people have already said, I think film was so attractive to American audiences at the time because it was a new and exciting form of entertainment and technology. To us, it seems somewhat crazy to think people would pay to watch short clips of everyday life (like parents feeding a baby or the commotion at a train station), but for the audience of the time, this was completely new and unlike any other form of entertainment they had. Likewise, the technology used to produce the content must have been fascinating to them. I also think that, since film progressed so quickly, audience members didn’t really have a chance to get bored with it. Elements of storytelling, even in the most basic form, started to be integrated in these shorts (such as in the Lumière brothers’ Le Jardinier when the boy plays the prank on the gardener), and filmmaking only continued to progress from there.
Americans were definitely drawn to film in its early stages due to the utilization of new technology that had never been seen before. These moving pictures were completely new to early audiences as the spectacle and magic captivated their interest. I think an important draw to early film was not only the new technology, but also the opportunity and expectation for this technology to develop even further. Once filmmakers started discovering that they could actually create narratives and manipulate time through their filming and editing, there was even more demand for the medium. Early films also allowed humans to observe themselves in ways they never could before, by using moving images instead of still photography. This made even simple films about ordinary tasks and people walking in and out of a factory captivating for early audiences. In general, it seemed that audiences were both impressed and entertained by early films due to the original way of displaying material. This fascination with moving images and entertainment has endured into the present day, as film is still an extremely popular medium. Throughout history and into the present day, audiences always want to escape their ordinary lives and be transported or entertained by people and situations outside of their daily lives. This was true in the past and is maintained into today’s cinema. Human beings are naturally curious creatures who enjoy discovering new technologies, so it is likely that film will continue to adapt and evolve as time goes on.
I think early American film captivated the attention of American viewers because they found the technology fascinating. Technology was being innovated and used in different ways than it ever had been before and I think that the idea of moving pictures on a screen depicting everyday life was new and exciting, and people are drawn to anything new and cutting edge. Technology was evolving so quickly that film was constantly changing and this kept the attention of audiences. I think this interest in the technological aspects remained important but became less so when narrative was introduced to film. Once the images on the screen were telling a story these films became a bigger source of entertainment and I think that the entertainment value combined with the interest in technology is what made early American film such a popular form of entertainment.
I agree with many of the statements already made about the impact of presenting a new technology, a mode of escapism that appealed to the lower class and business opportunities that early film presents. I also believe one factor that we have not discussed much played a vital role in American Audiences being drawn to film, the creation of a new "American" art-form. Being such a new nation, America had yet to establish a clear american-born art-form. While Europe had thousands of years of history being masters of literature, opera, theatre, poetry and other mediums of art, the introduction of early film created anew art-form that the American people could truly make their own stamp on it. Instead of solely adopting modes of art in which the masters still came from Europe, American people could be a part of the establishment of film as a new art-form as the narrative aspect took greater hold over the technological interest of film. While I agree that the other factors mentioned were key to the development of American interest in early film, I also believe that the ability for Americans to develop a new art-form for which they can make a mark on it as "American-made art", contributed to the development and interest of American film.
As discussed in class, early American film makers marketed new technology of their films and that is what originally drew American audiences. It wasn’t originally about story development or big name actors but was about seeing Edison’s moving pictures or the latest from the Lumiere brothers, as well as the illusion that came with it. While seeing moving pictures isn’t a big deal for Americans today, when film was first introduced it was new to American audiences. Relate it to Professor Whalen’s puppy when he first saw rain and was incredibly intrigued. Like many of my classmates have been saying, this new form of technology was intriguing to the lower classes. Audiences were able to not only see moving pictures for the first time, but see people like themselves in these moving pictures on screen doing everyday tasks. Of course, what continued to draw audiences to film in its earlier forms was not simply the fact that they were moving pictures, but it was the continued advances in technology and style that many early filmmakers pioneered. The difference between the early Actualités, Melies A Trip to the Moon, and Porter’s Great Train Robbery shows these advancements in both technology and artistic style.
Early American film was so intriguing to American viewers because they are very into the the new technology that was being introduced. During this time, technology was beginning to emerge in new ways that nobody was familiar with. When people started seeing moving pictures on a screen that these viewers could relate with, it is only natural that they started to become fascinated with the film culture. It can even be compared to people today. When a new iPhone or top gadget is being introduced and sold, we are automatically intrigued by it. This aspect of technology was very important to viewers but became less provident when the element of narrative was added to these moving pictures. When these picture started telling a story through the use of people's voices, people became more and more interested with film. From this notion, the film industry had an uproar of popularity.
Early American film was so intriguing to American viewers because they are very into the the new technology that was being introduced. During this time, technology was beginning to emerge in new ways that nobody was familiar with. When people started seeing moving pictures on a screen that these viewers could relate with, it is only natural that they started to become fascinated with the film culture. It can even be compared to people today. When a new iPhone or top gadget is being introduced and sold, we are automatically intrigued by it. This aspect of technology was very important to viewers but became less provident when the element of narrative was added to these moving pictures. When these picture started telling a story through the use of people's voices, people became more and more interested with film. From this notion, the film industry had an uproar of popularity.
I really like the comment that KatelynOtt said when she talks about how Americans are even today fascinated with the new and best technology when it comes to newest apple product of whatnot. This was the same idea back in early film. It was the next big technology and people couldn't get enough of it because visually it was amazing and entertaining. Put together technology, entertainment, and simplicity in almost any case and it is going to be successful. This idea has proven over and over again in film industry and it all started with that early technology that allowed audiences to come together and enjoy those short clips that made them laugh and continue to go back again to see different moving pictures.
American audiences were so drawn to film in its early form because it was something so revolutionary, not just the technology, but because it embodied American culture. The idea of freedom in America has been the driving force of our country, and with the emergence of film, Americans really took a liking to the freedom and creativity that film has. It was something of magic when a picture finally could be turned into a moving image, and this astonished people. It opened a whole new world, and Americans were excited about it.
I think that audiences were so drawn to film at first because it was a new medium, and, as any generation would, people wanted to see what this new medium could do. Pictures were a way to capture a still moment in time but with film they had the ability to watch action which was something they never had the ability to do before. So the initial awe of the new medium sparked peoples interest, but it was the evolution of storytelling that has continued to capture peoples interest decades later. From the caveman times humans have always been interested in stories and ways to tell stories, and film is arguably one of the most impactful way to do that. An beautiful image on a screen, matched with good audio and inspiring music will stop just about anyone in their tracks and demand their attention. It is incredible to think that in its beginning, a "film" was a few people walking across a still frame. And now a "film" is a big, expensive, Hollywood productions. And it is exciting to know that it will continue to evolve over the years.
28 comments:
I personally think American audiences were so drawn to film in its early form because it was a new, innovative technology.I think their captivation with early film is similar to the way we have embraced (and have been so consumed) with new technologies such as cell phones, the Internet, and computer technology. It's exciting when something new comes along that changes the way we can see the world. The illusion of movement through a picture was something completely different from the still photos everyone had previously been exposed to; they could finally see the human form in motion through an artistic medium.
Moreover, there were obviously a handful of individuals within that American audience that were so drawn to early film because they saw it as a marketable technology. They were able to see the potential of film as an industry and were drawn by the lure of business and money. Overall, I think the way early audiences embraced film is definitely relatable to the way we are all drawn to new technologies that have the potential to change the world.
I believe that Americans fell in love with film in its early form not only because it was a new technology that intrigued audiences with visual appeal especially with the introduction of pictures with sound and color. I think the stronger reasoning for why the American audience was so drawn to film was the experience of watching them together, which quickly became the very popular American past time in the 1950-1960s, with drive ins and theaters, that are still very popular now. The American public's fascination came not only from the actual films and the content that opened imaginations and engaged all ages, American cinema is held with high social relevance in our culture due to stories that are passed on throughout the ages that either defines the American story and it's view of the world.
I think that our fascination with film in its earliest stage originated in an element of magic; the art of a visual and psychological illusion that allows us to perceive a sequence of fixed images as a single moving piece. We call it persistence of vision and the phi phenomenon now, but the reason for our ability to see continuous motion when in fact we are watching a sequence of separate integers has never been completely explained. When films first came out, no matter how choppy and jerky the footage was, we would have been drawn to the novelty and surprise of moving pictures. People were supposed to have jumped out of the way from the Lumiere Brothers’ L’Arrivée d’un train en gare de La Ciotat. Actualités, no matter how mundane a subject, must have been still been new, because of the revolutionary platform on which they were performed.
We developed cinematography at first to capture movement for physiological purposes (Marey’s chronophotographic gun) and I think some of that interest was retained in early films: they were studies of movement.
I think in a way we also loved them because cinematography was developed on the tail end of the Realism art movement. We wanted to create an "objective reality" and film was a perfect platform. You had the tableaux and composition of classic art with an extra dimension that included movement.
Film and motion picture in its early form was a completely new and compelling way of entertainment. One of the reasons of its success was its novelty. People have never seen anything like that before. It was a magical box that managed to make still pictures alive and, in the later years, even tell a story. Because the film industry was developing so rapidly, audience was presented with new forms and styles of film on a regular basis and the novelty of it never got old.
Nevertheless, it is not only the technical part of the film that kept the audience so engaged with it. Film was also a new way to tell stories and influence the public. These stories and how they made the audience feel was one of the main reasons why film became so popular. From its early stages, motion picture was able to make people laugh, cry as well as live through the character’s story.
Even now, more than a century after film was first invented it is still one of the most popular ways of entertainment; mainly because there is still so much to explore and create. Most of the people who want to work in the film industry nowadays are looking to be a part of something what, at first sight, seem very old, yet is still very magical and mysterious. I do not believe (at least I would like to hope so) this mystery will ever be solved and the enchantment of film will never wear off. The invention of digital (although some may argue that digital killed film as we knew it) allowed filmmakers introduce better special effects and tell their stories in the way that they were never able to before. Some may say that digital is a step back in both quality of the image and storytelling. However, I believe sometimes one needs to make a step back in order to move forward and I am very excited to see what the new digital era has to offer.
In its earliest form, American film was simply the viewing of basic, everyday human activities (i.e. passengers boarding a train, factory workers leaving for lunch, etc.). These early films were interesting to American viewers mainly because they were fascinated by the fact that they could see themselves moving and interacting on screen. I believe that the introduction of storytelling to early films is what drew audiences in further. Being able to see stories of common American interactions (like the Lumieres' video of the parents feeding their baby) was an exciting concept. Ultimately, the storytelling aspect of America's first films is definitely what drew in early audiences.
I agree with the previous points made that American were drawn to film in its early form because it was a new technology. People became fascinated with the moving pictures, no matter how simplistic, because it had never been done before. The films that we watched in class, the 'Actualities' were really just people walking and doing simple activities, but the fact that they were able to watch themselves through a new medium captured attention of the masses.
Even in the earliest films, there was an inclination to start showing narratives. The potential of film being popular entertainment was seen almost immediately. This was a new way to communicate, share, and influence large groups of people. As discussed in class, the evolution of the film becoming a narrative advanced quickly because filmmakers realized that moving pictures can captivate an audience, but they wanted to figure out ways to keep them captivated. So, the technologies and stories continued to advance while the audience followed along, remaining engaged.
In the reading, cinema was described as "the first communications medium to be based on psychoperceptual illusions created by machines." This new medium launched an obsession with watching these illusions tell stories as well as an obsession with the technologies responsible for the illusions.
I think the initial attraction to film in its earliest stages was just out of awe for the technology. The ability to take a moving snapshot of a moment in time is a technology that boggles the mind. It must have been nearly incomprehensible to audiences at the time that technology was first emerging. Simply watching a video of crowds walking was worth paying money to see. However, I think what really captured the attention of the public was the stories that film were able to tell. Audiences could see people just like them on screen telling stories that made them feel a variety of emotions. In the earliest stages, the Lumiere brothers took videos of everyday scenes from around the world. These simple shots allowed the audience to feel a sense of connection with other humans and they recognized themselves in the shots. That same idea is another reason why people were so fascinated by film and why they still pay to see movies today. Watching a film with a room of people and sharing that experience together gives a feeling that humans crave: community.
I read an article that called the movies the modern day secular cathedral. At first I was confused by this comparison, but as I read the author’s reasoning, I couldn’t help but agree with his statement. He said we go to the movies to:
1. To expand our emotional bandwith – to feel sensations that we rarely experience in our normal lives.
2. To reconnect with our higher selves – to be reminded of what humans are capable of, in terms of both good and evil, and to alter course if we’re steering more towards the latter than the former.
3. To be reminded we’re not alone – that by the collective reaction of others in the audience we realise that we are not the only ones wrestling with life’s eel.
Movies allow us to have a place to help us deal with all of the problems we face in life. Whether that is because we see other people dealing with the same issues on screen, or whether it is because they take us to a fictional world that allow us to step away from our problems temporarily--they offer us a cathartic space that keep us coming back for more.
I agree with the previous comments about audiences being attracted to early film because of its inherent value of being a new technology, as well as film having a magical component and being a spectacle in and of itself. All these ideas are valid; however, I think a more obvious reason would be that film was a form of escapism for early audiences. One could pay a few cents at the nickelodeon to watch a spectacle and, however briefly, escape from their daily lives, especially as news centered around the great war in Europe. I think the human mind is prone to distraction, which is why film in its early form captivated audiences from the beginning. Additionally, audiences flocked to theaters to take shelter from the realties of the wars and violence taking place throughout the world and being announced in daily newspapers.
I think another reason for why American audiences were drawn to early films is that films were a permanent record and could be seen time and time again. For once, audiences could re-create an experience by watching the film as many times as they liked. Watching a film is not the same as looking at a static photograph. Watching a film is like taking a journey with the film's characters, and for once this journey and all its emotions could be recreated.
Similar to the previous comments, I agree that American audiences were fascinated by film in its early form because it was a new and exciting technology. Film also presented limitless possibilities and could be improved upon or altered each time. For example, when we were watching the Lumiere Brother’s Actualities, in class on Tuesday, we watched as the narrative progressed with each take; the first shots were just of people walking in two different directions leaving work, but then there is a narrative progression, with the boy kinking the hose and the man getting angry and scolding the boy. As stated in the reading, the Lumieres called their films “actualities or documentary views, where the camera and the point of view were static. It seemed as thought they believed editing reality was unthinkable. I believe watching these scenes of unedited “reality” initially intrigued people. For the first time they could re-watch their actions and movements.
I also agree with the previous post that discusses the theory of escapism, where people could go to the Nickelodeon and take time to themselves to escape their own reality. They were able to watch someone else’s reality instead. Here they could either place themselves into the films or feel better about their own situations.
As a new technology, film allowed people to create narratives/stories that they had only ever read or dreamed about. It opened up new doors and endless possibilities for the future of entertainment.
Early films captured the attention of Americans as a new and technologically advanced form of entertainment that was unlike anything else. Film could capture a story and allow directors and producers to be creative with content and a plot that would keep the interest of the viewers. Even the early silent films brought stories to life with the power of a moving image. Films were intriguing because the industry could be lead in so many directions and bring great success to those involved in the film: the producers, directors, actors, etc. I am sure the aspect of money was also a huge reason why so many people wanted to be a part of the booming film industry. In addition, the social aspect of a film probably also excited Americans because they could watch films together and have it be an experience of entertainment. The film industry in its earliest form was obviously something new and exciting that Americans wanted to be a part of, and it still proves to be one of the most successful and inspiring industries in America today.
I think my peers make some valid points about the technological and “magical” intrigue that the American audience had with early film. I would emphasize Leah’s last point about film being a permanent record of the realties of everyday life. The author uses a quote from La Poste describing the “novelty and ingenuity of the apparatus” (cinematographe) and it’s ability to make death no longer absolute. Early film could capture more than just a moment in time; it could recreate the real actions, gestures and emotions of a scene, which could be watched again and again, giving film this eternal quality that no one had experienced before.
Film also gave way to a new form of communication that bypassed language, and directly communicated with the audience through senses and emotion. Any person, literate or not, could watch a film and understand what was being communicated. I think American audiences were particularly drawn to film for this reason because they could relate to the actions they saw being projected, many of which had to do with the developments occurring around them, like industrialization and modernization.
The reason I think Americans were attracted to this new form of entertainment because it was different and magical. Unlike theater entertainment these motion pictures also took place in the real world, so it gave the audience a rare opportunity to look their society from an medium previously thought impossible. Similar to the way we lined up around corners when the new iphone came out; this new technology was exciting and provided an escape from everyday life. The potential for this technology was unbelievable comparable to previous inventions like the printing press.
I think that audiences were drawn to film in its early form because people love to be entertained and investigate new technologies. It is no different than today when new technology gets released, for example the iphone, Ipad, or similar, people flock to consume the latest and greatest. In it's early stages, film was a never before seen technology that amazed audiences, and everyone wanted to watch and learn about the exciting new phenomenon. I think that a little later on people wanted to be involved because of the money aspect, but initially I believe that people were enthralled by a new form of entertainment. It is hard to imagine today, as this generation has been raised with so many forms of entertainment that we lose count. We have to remember that back then, this invention was extraordinarily novel and interesting.
I think Americans were fascinated by film because it was a new medium for them to observe and analyze themselves. The first film we viewed in class was just people walking off of a train. In the beginning, the technology of film was more interesting than what was being filmed. People were fascinated the idea of watching themselves on a screen. And if not themselves, people who were like them. Film appealed strongly to the lower class first because it did not require a specific knowledge or language in order to be able to understand the film. One simply had to be able to open their eyes. I also think it was the realism that drew people to film. The Lumiere brothers even called their films “actualities,” and wished to document life as it was happening. Film offered a unique chance for people to re-experience life. Life as they experienced it themselves, or life as they wished they could experience it. Film was a way for people to re-experience what they wish they could re-experience. While also, giving people the opportunity to experience things they couldn’t, like a trip to the moon. Both were things that were mostly impossible before film, especially for lower class people who did not have access to the theater or did not know how to read.
As many people have already said, I think film was so attractive to American audiences at the time because it was a new and exciting form of entertainment and technology. To us, it seems somewhat crazy to think people would pay to watch short clips of everyday life (like parents feeding a baby or the commotion at a train station), but for the audience of the time, this was completely new and unlike any other form of entertainment they had. Likewise, the technology used to produce the content must have been fascinating to them. I also think that, since film progressed so quickly, audience members didn’t really have a chance to get bored with it. Elements of storytelling, even in the most basic form, started to be integrated in these shorts (such as in the Lumière brothers’ Le Jardinier when the boy plays the prank on the gardener), and filmmaking only continued to progress from there.
Americans were definitely drawn to film in its early stages due to the utilization of new technology that had never been seen before. These moving pictures were completely new to early audiences as the spectacle and magic captivated their interest. I think an important draw to early film was not only the new technology, but also the opportunity and expectation for this technology to develop even further. Once filmmakers started discovering that they could actually create narratives and manipulate time through their filming and editing, there was even more demand for the medium. Early films also allowed humans to observe themselves in ways they never could before, by using moving images instead of still photography. This made even simple films about ordinary tasks and people walking in and out of a factory captivating for early audiences. In general, it seemed that audiences were both impressed and entertained by early films due to the original way of displaying material.
This fascination with moving images and entertainment has endured into the present day, as film is still an extremely popular medium. Throughout history and into the present day, audiences always want to escape their ordinary lives and be transported or entertained by people and situations outside of their daily lives. This was true in the past and is maintained into today’s cinema. Human beings are naturally curious creatures who enjoy discovering new technologies, so it is likely that film will continue to adapt and evolve as time goes on.
I think early American film captivated the attention of American viewers because they found the technology fascinating. Technology was being innovated and used in different ways than it ever had been before and I think that the idea of moving pictures on a screen depicting everyday life was new and exciting, and people are drawn to anything new and cutting edge. Technology was evolving so quickly that film was constantly changing and this kept the attention of audiences. I think this interest in the technological aspects remained important but became less so when narrative was introduced to film. Once the images on the screen were telling a story these films became a bigger source of entertainment and I think that the entertainment value combined with the interest in technology is what made early American film such a popular form of entertainment.
I agree with many of the statements already made about the impact of presenting a new technology, a mode of escapism that appealed to the lower class and business opportunities that early film presents. I also believe one factor that we have not discussed much played a vital role in American Audiences being drawn to film, the creation of a new "American" art-form. Being such a new nation, America had yet to establish a clear american-born art-form. While Europe had thousands of years of history being masters of literature, opera, theatre, poetry and other mediums of art, the introduction of early film created anew art-form that the American people could truly make their own stamp on it. Instead of solely adopting modes of art in which the masters still came from Europe, American people could be a part of the establishment of film as a new art-form as the narrative aspect took greater hold over the technological interest of film. While I agree that the other factors mentioned were key to the development of American interest in early film, I also believe that the ability for Americans to develop a new art-form for which they can make a mark on it as "American-made art", contributed to the development and interest of American film.
As discussed in class, early American film makers marketed new technology of their films and that is what originally drew American audiences. It wasn’t originally about story development or big name actors but was about seeing Edison’s moving pictures or the latest from the Lumiere brothers, as well as the illusion that came with it. While seeing moving pictures isn’t a big deal for Americans today, when film was first introduced it was new to American audiences. Relate it to Professor Whalen’s puppy when he first saw rain and was incredibly intrigued. Like many of my classmates have been saying, this new form of technology was intriguing to the lower classes. Audiences were able to not only see moving pictures for the first time, but see people like themselves in these moving pictures on screen doing everyday tasks. Of course, what continued to draw audiences to film in its earlier forms was not simply the fact that they were moving pictures, but it was the continued advances in technology and style that many early filmmakers pioneered. The difference between the early Actualités, Melies A Trip to the Moon, and Porter’s Great Train Robbery shows these advancements in both technology and artistic style.
Early American film was so intriguing to American viewers because they are very into the the new technology that was being introduced. During this time, technology was beginning to emerge in new ways that nobody was familiar with. When people started seeing moving pictures on a screen that these viewers could relate with, it is only natural that they started to become fascinated with the film culture. It can even be compared to people today. When a new iPhone or top gadget is being introduced and sold, we are automatically intrigued by it. This aspect of technology was very important to viewers but became less provident when the element of narrative was added to these moving pictures. When these picture started telling a story through the use of people's voices, people became more and more interested with film. From this notion, the film industry had an uproar of popularity.
Early American film was so intriguing to American viewers because they are very into the the new technology that was being introduced. During this time, technology was beginning to emerge in new ways that nobody was familiar with. When people started seeing moving pictures on a screen that these viewers could relate with, it is only natural that they started to become fascinated with the film culture. It can even be compared to people today. When a new iPhone or top gadget is being introduced and sold, we are automatically intrigued by it. This aspect of technology was very important to viewers but became less provident when the element of narrative was added to these moving pictures. When these picture started telling a story through the use of people's voices, people became more and more interested with film. From this notion, the film industry had an uproar of popularity.
I really like the comment that KatelynOtt said when she talks about how Americans are even today fascinated with the new and best technology when it comes to newest apple product of whatnot. This was the same idea back in early film. It was the next big technology and people couldn't get enough of it because visually it was amazing and entertaining. Put together technology, entertainment, and simplicity in almost any case and it is going to be successful. This idea has proven over and over again in film industry and it all started with that early technology that allowed audiences to come together and enjoy those short clips that made them laugh and continue to go back again to see different moving pictures.
American audiences were so drawn to film in its early form because it was something so revolutionary, not just the technology, but because it embodied American culture. The idea of freedom in America has been the driving force of our country, and with the emergence of film, Americans really took a liking to the freedom and creativity that film has. It was something of magic when a picture finally could be turned into a moving image, and this astonished people. It opened a whole new world, and Americans were excited about it.
I think that audiences were so drawn to film at first because it was a new medium, and, as any generation would, people wanted to see what this new medium could do. Pictures were a way to capture a still moment in time but with film they had the ability to watch action which was something they never had the ability to do before. So the initial awe of the new medium sparked peoples interest, but it was the evolution of storytelling that has continued to capture peoples interest decades later.
From the caveman times humans have always been interested in stories and ways to tell stories, and film is arguably one of the most impactful way to do that. An beautiful image on a screen, matched with good audio and inspiring music will stop just about anyone in their tracks and demand their attention. It is incredible to think that in its beginning, a "film" was a few people walking across a still frame. And now a "film" is a big, expensive, Hollywood productions. And it is exciting to know that it will continue to evolve over the years.
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