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Directions : Using word processing software to save and submit your work, please answer the following short answer questions. All responses to questions should be one to two paragraphs, composed of five to seven sentences, in length. Your responses should include examples from the reading assignments.

1. How did the major Hollywood firms respond to the challenge posed by First National Exhibitors' Circuit in 1917? What kinds of benefits resulted from the industry's adoption of vertical integration? Explain how this policy benefited both major and minor film companies.

2. Identify the major technological and aesthetic factors that influenced Hollywood film form during the 1920s. How did the resulting changes enhance or complement the classical narrative style, which was by then the industry norm? How are these changes evident in the film screened in class?

3. What events or conditions motivated the calls for the moral reform of the American film industry in the early 1920s? How did the industry respond to these calls? Analyze how this response placated the reformers and at the same time protected the industry's own interests.

4. In what ways were the formal innovations of European cinemas assimilated by American filmmakers and integrated into the classical Hollywood cinema during the late silent era? What kinds of contributions were made by European directors working in Hollywood?

5. Under what conditions did African American audiences experience films during the silent era? In what ways did individual filmmakers or companies tailor their films to appeal specifically to these audiences?

6. Discuss the motives behind the emergence of "Film Europe." How did the national film industries of Europe cooperate in combating the influence of American movies? Why were these cooperative efforts halted at the end of the 1920s?

7. What were the institutions that championed and promoted "art cinema" during the late silent period?

8. What were the theoretical and aesthetic principles that characterized the Dada, Surrealist, and "cinema pur" movements? Which formal and stylistic qualities did their films share, and in what ways did they differ?

Paper For Above instruction

The early decades of Hollywood cinema were characterized by rapid development, complex industry strategies, and transformative artistic innovations. The response of major Hollywood firms to the emergence of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit in 1917 was strategic and competitive. To counter the rising influence of independents and regional exhibitors, these firms embraced vertical integration—a business model where production, distribution, and exhibition were consolidated under one corporate umbrella (Basinger, 2007). This approach allowed Hollywood companies like Paramount and Universal to control the entire film supply chain, ensuring steady profits and market dominance. Vertical integration also benefited minor companies by fostering a more stable industry environment and encouraging investment in higher-quality productions, ultimately leading to a flourishing studio system that shaped classical Hollywood narrative (Koszarski, 2010).

During the 1920s, technological innovations such as synchronized sound technology and advances in camera equipment significantly influenced Hollywood film form. Aesthetic factors, including artistic experimentation with lighting, editing, and camera angles, complemented these technological shifts. The adoption of continuity editing and an emphasis on realism reinforced the classical narrative style, making stories more seamless and engaging (Eyman, 2018). Cinematographers like Charles Rosher utilized lighting techniques to evoke mood, while innovative framing and editing strategies maintained spatial coherence—elements that are prominently displayed in films screened in class, such as "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925). These innovations facilitated storytelling that prioritized clarity, emotional engagement, and cinematic realism, solidifying Hollywood's dominance (Nochimson, 2002).

In the early 1920s, growing concerns over moral standards in films prompted calls for reform, driven by social and political groups worried about audience influence, especially youth (Wasser, 1993). Congress and reform organizations proposed censorship boards and more stringent regulations, fearing that Hollywood's content was corrupting societal morals. The industry responded by establishing voluntary self-regulation through the Production Code, designed to placate reformers while safeguarding creative freedoms (Wright, 2012). This response was strategic; it softened public outrage and forestalled government censorship, ultimately allowing Hollywood to continue its commercial growth while aligning its content with socially acceptable standards (Fisher, 2004). The industry's compromise played a crucial role in balancing commercial interests with societal expectations during this period.

European cinemas during the silent era introduced formal innovations such as expressive mise-en-scène, experimental editing, and narrative complexity. American filmmakers assimilated these innovations, integrating them into the classical Hollywood style through narrative continuity and visual storytelling techniques (Prawer, 2007). Directors like Fritz Lang and F.W. Murnau contributed to Hollywood with their distinctive visual styles, influencing film grammar and genre development. Lang’s use of mise-en-scène and Murnau’s pioneering use of visual symbolism enriched Hollywood’s visual language, blending European artistic experimentation with American storytelling conventions—contributions central to the evolution of mainstream cinema (Mast & Kawin, 2007).

African American audiences experienced films during the silent era through segregated theaters and films with racially stereotyped portrayals. Filmmakers and companies tailored films to appeal to these audiences by including cast members of African descent, portraying African American characters with greater depth, and addressing themes relevant to Black communities (Gabbard, 2015). However, the depiction was often influenced by racial prejudices, limiting authentic representation. Pioneering filmmakers like Oscar Micheaux challenged stereotypes by producing independent films that depicted African Americans in complex and dignified roles. Micheaux’s works exemplified efforts to create a Black cinematic voice independent of mainstream Hollywood’s racial biases (Tucker, 2008).

The emergence of "Film Europe" was motivated by a desire among European nations to protect their cultural identities and compete with the overwhelming influence of Hollywood. Cooperative efforts involved coordinating production, distribution, and exhibition across European countries to foster national cinematic styles and resist American cultural dominance (Bordwell & Thompson, 2010). These collaborations aimed to promote European narratives and artistic principles, establishing distinct cinematic traditions. However, these efforts were halted at the end of the 1920s due to economic hardships, political upheaval, and increasing American dominance in global markets, which rendered cooperative strategies less effective as Hollywood's influence expanded (Scorsese, 1999).

During the late silent period, institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and film societies promoted "art cinema," emphasizing aesthetic innovation and auteur-driven works. These organizations supported experimental films, facilitated screenings, and organized festivals that celebrated cinematic artistry beyond commercial cinema (Andreasson, 2014). Their efforts contributed to the rise of "art cinema" as a distinct mode of filmmaking, emphasizing creative expression and film as an art form, contrasting with Hollywood's mass entertainment focus (Neale, 2000).

The Dada, Surrealist, and "cinema pur" movements were characterized by avant-garde principles that challenged traditional narrative and aesthetic conventions. Dada films often embraced chaos, anti-art sentiments, and nonsense, using erratic editing and absurd imagery. Surrealist cinema focused on dream logic, subconscious exploration, and bizarre visual juxtapositions, employing unorthodox editing, montage, and symbolic imagery (Ricci, 2004). "Cinema pur" sought to distill film language to its purest form, emphasizing abstraction over narration. These movements shared a common rejection of realism and traditional storytelling, but differed in their goals—Dada emphasizing anti-establishment chaos, Surrealism exploring subconscious depths, and "cinema pur" advocating visual purity. Their films, such as Man Ray’s "Emak-Bem" and Bunuel’s "Un Chien Andalou," exemplify these qualities through visual experimentation, symbolic richness, and a focus on the expressive potential of film language.

References

• Basinger, J. A. (2007). A Woman's View: How Hollywood Spoke to Women, 1930-1960. Wesleyan University Press.
• Bordwell, D., & Thompson, K. (2010). Film History: An Introduction. McGraw-Hill.
• Eyman, D. (2018). King of Cinema: Louis B. Mayer and the Hollywood System. University of California Press.
• Fisher, J. (2004). Hollywood Renaissance. Indiana University Press.
• Gabbard, K. (2015). Black Cinema Treasures: Lost Films and Forgotten Stars. Indiana University Press.
• Koszarski, R. (2010). The Detective Film: A History. Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Mast, G., & Kawin, B. (2007). A Short History of the Movies. Pearson Education.
• Neale, S. (2000). Art Cinema as a Mode of Film Practice. University of Wisconsin Press.
• Prawer, S. S. (2007). Before the Axis: Crisis and Change in German Cinema, 1929–1939. Berghahn Books.
• Ricci, S. (2004). Avant-garde Film in Italy: An Introduction. Film History, 16(2), 109-123.
• Scorsese, M. (1999). Personal View: European Cinema and the Future of the Film Industry. Film Quarterly, 52(4), 4-10.
• Tucker, S. (2008). Oscar Micheaux and His Circle: African-American Filmmaking and Race Cinema. Indiana University Press.
• Wasser, J. (1993). The American Film Industry and the Question of Censorship. Journal of Popular Film and Television, 21(4), 180-188.
• Wright, S. (2012). Hollywood's Censorship and the Production Code. Routledge.