The subject of Early Cinema is a lively one and is a particular branch of Film Studies that has been a significant force in recent film and media scholarship. No longer the preserve of archivists, this subject has made an impact on cultural studies, social history, studies in aesthetics, reception studies and histories of technology. This module is an exploration of the main issues and debates that surround the study of film in the period between 1895-1928. In the first part of the module the focus is on the early period 1895-1912 and the move from novelty to narrative. The second part is organised around the development of the feature, the changing exhibition practices and the rise of the Hollywood industry from 1912-1920 with a particular focus on the cultural and historical context of exhibition and reception in Britain. The third part of the module utilises case studies to explore the intertwining nature of the aesthetics and politics of the Hollywood silent films of the Twenties.
