New Perspectives on Early Cinema History: Concepts, Approaches, Audiences

Editors Mario Slugan and Daniël Biltereyst present a theoretical reconceptualization of early cinema, highlighting the latest methods and tools for analysis and evaluating examples across the globe. Contributors address the periodization of the era, emphasizing the availability of primary materials, digital technologies, new cinema history, and the persistence of conceptualizations. They also highlight cutting-edge approaches to the study of early cinema, such as the use of the Mediathread Platform, the formation of new datasets, and exploring the early era in non-western cultures. Finally, they revisit early cinema audiences and exhibition contexts by investigating some of the earliest screenings in Denmark and the US, exploring black cinema going in Harlem, and examining exhibition practices in Germany.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In their book, editors Mario Slugan and Daniël Biltereyst present a comprehensive theoretical reimagining of early cinema. To achieve this, they delve into the latest analytical techniques and tools, shedding new light on the captivating experience of early cinema through their application. A diverse international cohort of contributors assesses a range of early cinematic masterpieces, including The May Irwin Kiss (1896), Un homme de têtes (1900), The Terrible Turkish Executioner (1904), and Tom Tom the Pipers Son (1905). By doing so, they address the periodization of this era, emphasizing the recent surge in the availability of primary materials, the ascendancy of digital technologies, the advancements in new cinema history, and the enduring significance of certain conceptualizations in driving a theoretical and methodological reevaluation of early cinema.

The contributors further highlight cutting-edge approaches to the study of early cinema. They explore the use of the Mediathread Platform, the creation of new datasets through digital technologies, and the exploration of the early era in non-western cultures. Additionally, they revisit early cinema audiences and exhibition contexts by examining some of the earliest screenings in Denmark and the United States, delving into the intricacies of black cinema in Harlem, and scrutinizing exhibition practices in Germany.

Through their meticulous research and insightful analysis, Mario Slugan and Daniël Biltereyst have crafted a seminal work that not only enriches our understanding of early cinema but also inspires future scholars and enthusiasts to delve deeper into this captivating and ever-evolving field.

Weight: 499g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350451452