Monday, December 8, 2014

D.W. GRIFFITH'S THE BIRTH OF A NATION

Check Out this article about the beginning of the depute between white American's and black American's

http://www.filmsite.org/birt.html

What effect did the film have on the US society at the time?  How did the white audience react?  How did the african american audience react?  How did Griffith respond to the publics reaction to his film?  Write about three of the innovations that Griffith pioneered with the film.


The film caused immediate criticism from the (NAACP) for its racist and "vicious" portrayal of blacks, its proclamation of miscegenation, its pro-Klan stance, and its endorsement of slavery. In America riots broke out in major cities. Subsequent lawsuits and picketing tailed the film for years when it was re-released at once a major stride for cinema and a sacrifice of black humanity to the cause of racism.The film also thematically explored two great American issues: inter-racial sex and marriage, and the empowerment of blacks. It appealed to white Americans and a black teenage boy was even killed by a white male after viewing the film. Griffith was not trying to cause the beginning of the rage between races. Griffith invented what today is called the flashback, though he called it the “switchback.” In a flashback, a brief return to a past time interrupts the forward progress of a linear narrative. Griffith advanced not only the notions of narrative brought forth by directors such as Porter but used and progressed camera techniques and the art of cinematograph it also showed that huge profits could be made. The film "The Birth of A Nation", is stated;
"tremendously significant and powerful work of art (and example of movie propaganda), with extraordinary effects and brilliantly-filmed sequences." It was the first film of this era to ever have a cast so huge and action scenes to detailed.


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