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Genre Analysis: American Silent Films in the early 20th Century

Genre Analysis: American Silent Films in the early 20th Century. Thaddeus Swart, Demitrios Kanellopoulos, Naomi Johnson, Jenna Merony, Ashley Erickson, Emily Tyler. What Is a Genre?.

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Genre Analysis: American Silent Films in the early 20th Century

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  1. Genre Analysis: American Silent Films in the early 20th Century Thaddeus Swart, Demitrios Kanellopoulos, Naomi Johnson, Jenna Merony, Ashley Erickson, Emily Tyler

  2. What Is a Genre? • Google’s Definition: “a category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter”. • Definition based on class readings: The sum of a set of categories, or patterns, an audience expects from a text.

  3. What Makes Silent Films a Genre? • Black and white film • No speaking (unable to record audio) • Music • Enhance viewing experience • Create atmosphere and time • Exaggerated acting, physical humor (slapstick) • Doing with their bodies what they can’t do with their voices • Distortion of speed and time • Aids with narrative flow • Camera tricks • Appearance (clothing, makeup) • Cast demographics

  4. Text Example: Safety Last!, 1923

  5. Identification of Genre Aspects Music - start at 1:00:04 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-XZWZVVhvQ Title cards Casting

  6. Text Example: The Dentist/Laughing Gas, 1914

  7. Identification of Genre Aspects Acting style: start at 5:13, 6:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZrsuEWw9m8 • Exaggerated, expressive acting • Slapstick style of humor • Sped-up camera around 4:25

  8. The Great Train Robbery (1903)

  9. Identification of Genre Aspects https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuto7qWrplc • Organ music grows more dramatic towards the end • Exaggerated acting at 5:42, 11:00 - man falls dead • Camera trick: 3:50 person turns into a dummy

  10. Our New Text: Ms. Interpret (2019) Ms. Interpret Written by Naomi Johnson and featuring herself, Demitri Kanellopoulos, and Jenna Merony

  11. Questions & Answers

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