Cinema's birth revolutionized entertainment, blending technology and art. From Muybridge's motion studies to Edison's Kinetoscope, early innovations laid the groundwork for a new medium. The Lumière brothers' cinematograph brought moving images to the masses, while Méliès pioneered special effects.

Silent films developed unique storytelling techniques to overcome the lack of sound. Linear narratives, intertitles, and exaggerated acting conveyed meaning visually. These early films democratized entertainment, created movie stars, and influenced other art forms, setting the stage for modern cinema.

The Birth of Cinema

Technological innovations in cinema

• Persistence of vision creates the illusion of motion by rapidly displaying a series of still images
  • Phi phenomenon occurs when the brain perceives a series of still images as continuous motion
• Eadweard Muybridge's motion studies captured a series of photographs of a galloping horse using multiple cameras proving that all four of a horse's hooves leave the ground simultaneously during a gallop
• Thomas Edison's inventions advanced early cinema technology
  • Kinetoscope allowed individuals to watch short films through a peephole viewing device
  • Kinetograph used perforated film to record motion pictures with a camera
• Lumière brothers' cinematograph functioned as a combination camera, printer, and projector enabling the projection of moving images to larger audiences
• Georges Méliès pioneered the use of special effects in cinema through techniques such as stop tricks, multiple exposures, and hand-painted color (A Trip to the Moon)

Early Silent Films

Techniques of silent films

• Linear narrative structure employed simple, straightforward storytelling with a clear beginning, middle, and end emphasizing action and physical comedy (Keystone Cops)
• Intertitles provided dialogue, narration, or exposition through text cards inserted between scenes to compensate for the lack of synchronized sound
• Long takes and wide shots captured the entirety of a scene in uninterrupted shots allowing viewers to see the full action and context (The Great Train Robbery)
• Exaggerated acting and gestures conveyed emotions and meaning through facial expressions, body language, and pantomime to compensate for the lack of spoken dialogue (Charlie Chaplin)
• Mise-en-scène created specific moods, atmospheres, or visual styles through the arrangement of elements within a frame, including set design, lighting, and costume (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari)

Impact of early cinema

• Democratization of entertainment provided affordable and accessible entertainment for the masses, attracting diverse audiences including working-class and immigrant populations (nickelodeons)
• Rise of movie stars and celebrity culture turned popular actors into household names as studios promoted and capitalized on their popularity (Mary Pickford, Rudolph Valentino)
• Influence on other art forms as cinema's storytelling techniques and visual styles inspired literature, theater, and visual arts while filmmakers adapted novels and stage plays for the screen (Metropolis)
• Global impact and cultural exchange facilitated by the worldwide distribution and consumption of films, transcending language barriers through primarily visual storytelling
• Foundation for the modern film industry established through the basic principles and techniques of filmmaking, paving the way for the development of Hollywood and the global film industry (studio system)