Film as Literature
Fall 2026
Unit 1:
history of cinema
START
A Brief Overview of the History of Cinema
in this class, we will look at film techniques, genres, and movements along a historical timeline
In the third unit, we will complete genre studies from the Golden Age of Hollywood, including musicals, westerns, and film noir. In the fourth unit, we will look at international film movements, including the French New Wave, the Japanese New Wave, and the Scandinavian Revival. In the fifth and final unit, we'll look at the transition to modern Hollywood, moving from New Hollywood to the blockbuster era and on to streaming, including a final genre study on science fiction.
We will begin by looking at the earliest films to track the development of filmmaking technology, from the earliest cameras to color film to synchronous sound. In the second unit, we will look at basic film techniques, including camera angles, editing, transitions, mise-en-scene, lighting, and sound design. These techniques help define historical movements in cinema and genres, and we often evaluate the quality of a movie based on how the director uses these techniques.
INDEX
Video
Camera Obscura
quote
Text + Icons
Audio
Section
relevant data
Inserted Content
Interactive Question
Timeline
Conclusions
Graph + Text
Close
Table + Text
List / Process
pre-camera technology: camera obscura
The first recorded use of a device that projected images through light manipulation is the camera obscura. The camera obscura, or pinhole camera, probably dates back to 500 BC. In both ancient Greece and China, people theorized the camera obscura, but the first written record was from Leonardo da Vinci in 1502. The camera obscura works much like the human eye; light passes through a small opening, passes through a lens and a dark chamber, and then projects an inverted image on a smooth surface.
Persistence of Vision: images remain on the retina for a fraction of a second after being seen
Early motion pictures were possible through Three quirks of human vision: Persistence of Vision Stroboscopic effect Perceptual Constancy
Stroboscopic Effect: sequential images at frequency are perceived as continuous
Perceptual Constancy: your brain perceives objects as remaining the same or continuous based on context
TIMELINE
1896
1895
1891
1888
1878
Georges Melies accidentally discovers and pioneers film editing
The Lumiere brothers show their first films in Paris
Thomas Edison develops the Kinetoscope and establishes parlors for viewing in 1894
Louis Le Prince shoots the first recording of live action with a single lens camera
Eadweard Muybridge creates a motion picture from 24 still images
The first motion picture camera
Melies's modified Theatrograph
The zoopraxiscope
The Kinetoscope
The Cinematographe
Eadweard Muybridge
Photography in motion
Eadweard Muybridge was a pioneering photographer who invented the motion picture by rapidly projecting a series of still photographs. His motion pictures more accurately resemble modern animation techniques than what we would call a video recording, but his work set the stage for future innovation.
louis le Prince
An Unsolved mystery
Louis Le Prince invented a camera with a single lens that could capture multiple shots rapidly on a single roll of film, as opposed to Muybridges 12 separate cameras. The film could then be projected as one continuous moving picture. Le Prince's disappearance is often attributed to his connection to Thomas Edison, who was known to sabotage competitors.
Thomas Edison
You're Not my Real Dad
Although many people consider Edison one of the founding fathers of cinema, we now know he mostly stole credit for other's work, sabotaged his competitors, and may have even killed some off. However, he still contributed to the invention of motion picture cameras, even if only by employing more talented inventors.
The Lumiere Brothers
First Commercial Films
The Cinematographe
Georges Melies
Put on a Show
Georges Melies began as a stage magician, and he was one of the first filmmakers to turn motion pictures into a show, introducing elaborate sets, costumes, and storylines. Melies accidentally discovered editing and realized be could use film cutting to create illusions that put stage magic to shame.
The Four Troublesome Heads (1891)
The Infernal Cauldron (1903)
The Mermaid (1904)
A Voyage to the Moon (1902)
Cross-Cutting
Edwin S. Porter & the Language of Film
Camera Pan
Edwin S. Porter
Camera Tilt
The Great Train Robbery (1903)
Editing To Tell a Story
Porter used cross-cutting to establish the simultaneous timelines of the robbers and the engineer. Camera pans revealed new information, like the waiting getaway horses, to build suspense. Camera tilt was
Technical Advances
SOUND & COLOR
Turner Color Processes
an AWESOME title
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight a specific phrase or piece of information that will be etched in your audience's memory and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Write a title here
A great title
A great title
A great title
A great title
A great title
A great title
PHRASE HIGHLIGHTED
Boring content in your presentation down: make it entertaining
SECTION
STRUCTURE YOUR CONTENT
SECTION
90%
Most of the information we assimilate comes through our sight. Tell stories with graphics!
+ INFO
relevant DATA
+85k
+45k
+190
You can represent numbers in this way
This is how you will keep the attention of your audience
Even if youexplain it orally later
TIMELINE
19XX
19XX
19XX
19XX
19XX
A cool title
A cool title
A cool title
A great title
A cool title
Share your idea with an image
Share your idea with an image
Share your idea with an image
Share your idea with an image
Share your idea with an image
Do you feel like your text is missing something? Give it animation to captivate your audience.
19XX
A cool title
19XX
A cool title
With composure and conciseness. Summarize the content.
19XX
A cool title
Through an outline, to tell everything in an orderly way.
Show enthusiasm! Take a deep breath and say what you came to say.
19XX
A great title
After practicing a lot. The best improvisation is the one that is worked on!
19XX
A great title
graphics
75%
Represent your data in the simplest way: choose your chart, organize the numbers, and paste them into Genially.
Animation adds value to our content by helping us capture attention, prioritize ideas, and make our audience remember the content.
gráficos
un título GENIAL
Con las plantillas de Genially podrás incluir recursos visuales para dejar a tu audiencia con la boca abierta. También destacar alguna frase o dato concreto que se quede grabado a fuego en la memoria de tu público e incluso embeber contenido externo que sorprenda: vídeos, fotos, audios... ¡Lo que tú quieras!
Table
El contenido visual es un lenguaje transversal, universal, como la música. Somos capaces de entender imágenes de hace millones de años, incluso de otras culturas.
lista / procesos
03
02
01
Seres sociales. Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Seres narrativos. Contamos miles y miles de historias. ⅔ de nuestras conversaciones son historias.
Somos seres visuales. Somos capaces de entender imágenes de hace millones de años, incluso de otras culturas.
+ INFO
+ INFO
+ INFO
VIDEO
an AWESOME title
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight a specific phrase or piece of information that will be etched in your audience's memory and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
VIDEOS
Animate your content and take it to the next level
Animate your content and take it to the next level
‘Your content is liked, but only engages if it is interactive’ Genially
'Your content is liked, but it hooks much more if it's interactive' Genially
Un título genial
Un título genial
TEXT + ICONS
Boring Presentation A presentation is NOT WOW when it is boring and you see that drowsiness takes over your audience because no one has understood anything.
WOW Presentation You know a presentation is WOW when you capture the attention of your audience and everyone absorbs the information
+ INFO
+ INFO
AUDIO
A great title Write a great subtitle here to provide context
A great title Write a great subtitle here to provide context
A great title Write a great subtitle here to provide context
A great title Write a great subtitle here to give context
INSERTED CONTENT
Here you can put a standout title, something that captivates your audience
Animate your content and take it to the next level
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
CONCLUSIONS
Here you can put a highlighted title
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well, 90% of the information we assimilate comes to us through sight, and, furthermore, we retain 42% more information when the content is in motion. What you read: interactivity and animation can turn the most boring content into something fun. At Genially, we use AI (Awesome Interactivity) in all our designs, so you can level up.
with interactivity and turn your content into something that adds value and engages. When carrying out a presentation, you must pursue two objectives: convey information and avoid yawns. To achieve this, it can be a good practice to create a scheme and use words that etch into the minds of your audience.
This is a paragraph ready to contain creativity, experiences, and great stories. With Genially's templates you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
+ INFO
remember to post
Here you can put a standout title, something that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we absorb comes through sight, and we retain 42% more information when the content is in motion.
Here you can put a standout title, something that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we take in comes through our sight, and we retain 42% more information when the content is in motion.
Here you can put a standout title, something that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we assimilate comes through sight, and we retain 42% more information when the content is moving.
At Genially you will find over 1,000 ready-made templates for you to input your content and customize them, which will help you tell your stories.
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that will be etched in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
In Genially you will find over 1,000 ready-made templates for you to insert your content and customize them, which will help you tell your stories.
Write a great title
With Genially templates you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. Also highlight a particular phrase or piece of information that remains etched in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Here you can put a standout title, something that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we assimilate comes through our eyes, and we retain 42% more information when the content is in motion.
Write a great title
With Genially templates you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that will be etched in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Here you can place a striking title, something that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we assimilate comes through our sight, and we retain 42% more information when the content is in motion.
In Genially you will find more than 1,000 ready-made templates for you to insert your content and customize them, which will help you tell your stories.
Bibliography
- We leave you here a small guide: Arial or Times New Roman typography, 12 pt, 2.0 line spacing, left aligned, and not justified.
- It's also important to list all the sources you have cited throughout the article. To do this, create a references page after the main body.
- On the references page, you should write the section title, in bold and centered. The references are listed on the second line, in alphabetical order.
- Use this great space to write your sources of information. Citing where you got the info, is always a plus.
- APA Guidelines (Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association) are essential when citing bibliography.
- These are a set of guidelines for citing any type of project: thesis, reports, presentations... Anything!
- These references include information about the author, publication date, title, and source.
Here you can put a headline that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we assimilate comes to us visually and, furthermore, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.
history of cinema
Rachel Cullett
Created on March 30, 2026
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Transcript
Film as Literature
Fall 2026
Unit 1:
history of cinema
START
A Brief Overview of the History of Cinema
in this class, we will look at film techniques, genres, and movements along a historical timeline
In the third unit, we will complete genre studies from the Golden Age of Hollywood, including musicals, westerns, and film noir. In the fourth unit, we will look at international film movements, including the French New Wave, the Japanese New Wave, and the Scandinavian Revival. In the fifth and final unit, we'll look at the transition to modern Hollywood, moving from New Hollywood to the blockbuster era and on to streaming, including a final genre study on science fiction.
We will begin by looking at the earliest films to track the development of filmmaking technology, from the earliest cameras to color film to synchronous sound. In the second unit, we will look at basic film techniques, including camera angles, editing, transitions, mise-en-scene, lighting, and sound design. These techniques help define historical movements in cinema and genres, and we often evaluate the quality of a movie based on how the director uses these techniques.
INDEX
Video
Camera Obscura
quote
Text + Icons
Audio
Section
relevant data
Inserted Content
Interactive Question
Timeline
Conclusions
Graph + Text
Close
Table + Text
List / Process
pre-camera technology: camera obscura
The first recorded use of a device that projected images through light manipulation is the camera obscura. The camera obscura, or pinhole camera, probably dates back to 500 BC. In both ancient Greece and China, people theorized the camera obscura, but the first written record was from Leonardo da Vinci in 1502. The camera obscura works much like the human eye; light passes through a small opening, passes through a lens and a dark chamber, and then projects an inverted image on a smooth surface.
Persistence of Vision: images remain on the retina for a fraction of a second after being seen
Early motion pictures were possible through Three quirks of human vision: Persistence of Vision Stroboscopic effect Perceptual Constancy
Stroboscopic Effect: sequential images at frequency are perceived as continuous
Perceptual Constancy: your brain perceives objects as remaining the same or continuous based on context
TIMELINE
1896
1895
1891
1888
1878
Georges Melies accidentally discovers and pioneers film editing
The Lumiere brothers show their first films in Paris
Thomas Edison develops the Kinetoscope and establishes parlors for viewing in 1894
Louis Le Prince shoots the first recording of live action with a single lens camera
Eadweard Muybridge creates a motion picture from 24 still images
The first motion picture camera
Melies's modified Theatrograph
The zoopraxiscope
The Kinetoscope
The Cinematographe
Eadweard Muybridge
Photography in motion
Eadweard Muybridge was a pioneering photographer who invented the motion picture by rapidly projecting a series of still photographs. His motion pictures more accurately resemble modern animation techniques than what we would call a video recording, but his work set the stage for future innovation.
louis le Prince
An Unsolved mystery
Louis Le Prince invented a camera with a single lens that could capture multiple shots rapidly on a single roll of film, as opposed to Muybridges 12 separate cameras. The film could then be projected as one continuous moving picture. Le Prince's disappearance is often attributed to his connection to Thomas Edison, who was known to sabotage competitors.
Thomas Edison
You're Not my Real Dad
Although many people consider Edison one of the founding fathers of cinema, we now know he mostly stole credit for other's work, sabotaged his competitors, and may have even killed some off. However, he still contributed to the invention of motion picture cameras, even if only by employing more talented inventors.
The Lumiere Brothers
First Commercial Films
The Cinematographe
Georges Melies
Put on a Show
Georges Melies began as a stage magician, and he was one of the first filmmakers to turn motion pictures into a show, introducing elaborate sets, costumes, and storylines. Melies accidentally discovered editing and realized be could use film cutting to create illusions that put stage magic to shame.
The Four Troublesome Heads (1891)
The Infernal Cauldron (1903)
The Mermaid (1904)
A Voyage to the Moon (1902)
Cross-Cutting
Edwin S. Porter & the Language of Film
Camera Pan
Edwin S. Porter
Camera Tilt
The Great Train Robbery (1903)
Editing To Tell a Story
Porter used cross-cutting to establish the simultaneous timelines of the robbers and the engineer. Camera pans revealed new information, like the waiting getaway horses, to build suspense. Camera tilt was
Technical Advances
SOUND & COLOR
Turner Color Processes
an AWESOME title
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight a specific phrase or piece of information that will be etched in your audience's memory and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Write a title here
A great title
A great title
A great title
A great title
A great title
A great title
PHRASE HIGHLIGHTED
Boring content in your presentation down: make it entertaining
SECTION
STRUCTURE YOUR CONTENT
SECTION
90%
Most of the information we assimilate comes through our sight. Tell stories with graphics!
+ INFO
relevant DATA
+85k
+45k
+190
You can represent numbers in this way
This is how you will keep the attention of your audience
Even if youexplain it orally later
TIMELINE
19XX
19XX
19XX
19XX
19XX
A cool title
A cool title
A cool title
A great title
A cool title
Share your idea with an image
Share your idea with an image
Share your idea with an image
Share your idea with an image
Share your idea with an image
Do you feel like your text is missing something? Give it animation to captivate your audience.
19XX
A cool title
19XX
A cool title
With composure and conciseness. Summarize the content.
19XX
A cool title
Through an outline, to tell everything in an orderly way.
Show enthusiasm! Take a deep breath and say what you came to say.
19XX
A great title
After practicing a lot. The best improvisation is the one that is worked on!
19XX
A great title
graphics
75%
Represent your data in the simplest way: choose your chart, organize the numbers, and paste them into Genially.
Animation adds value to our content by helping us capture attention, prioritize ideas, and make our audience remember the content.
gráficos
un título GENIAL
Con las plantillas de Genially podrás incluir recursos visuales para dejar a tu audiencia con la boca abierta. También destacar alguna frase o dato concreto que se quede grabado a fuego en la memoria de tu público e incluso embeber contenido externo que sorprenda: vídeos, fotos, audios... ¡Lo que tú quieras!
Table
El contenido visual es un lenguaje transversal, universal, como la música. Somos capaces de entender imágenes de hace millones de años, incluso de otras culturas.
lista / procesos
03
02
01
Seres sociales. Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Seres narrativos. Contamos miles y miles de historias. ⅔ de nuestras conversaciones son historias.
Somos seres visuales. Somos capaces de entender imágenes de hace millones de años, incluso de otras culturas.
+ INFO
+ INFO
+ INFO
VIDEO
an AWESOME title
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight a specific phrase or piece of information that will be etched in your audience's memory and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
VIDEOS
Animate your content and take it to the next level
Animate your content and take it to the next level
‘Your content is liked, but only engages if it is interactive’ Genially
'Your content is liked, but it hooks much more if it's interactive' Genially
Un título genial
Un título genial
TEXT + ICONS
Boring Presentation A presentation is NOT WOW when it is boring and you see that drowsiness takes over your audience because no one has understood anything.
WOW Presentation You know a presentation is WOW when you capture the attention of your audience and everyone absorbs the information
+ INFO
+ INFO
AUDIO
A great title Write a great subtitle here to provide context
A great title Write a great subtitle here to provide context
A great title Write a great subtitle here to provide context
A great title Write a great subtitle here to give context
INSERTED CONTENT
Here you can put a standout title, something that captivates your audience
Animate your content and take it to the next level
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
CONCLUSIONS
Here you can put a highlighted title
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well, 90% of the information we assimilate comes to us through sight, and, furthermore, we retain 42% more information when the content is in motion. What you read: interactivity and animation can turn the most boring content into something fun. At Genially, we use AI (Awesome Interactivity) in all our designs, so you can level up.
with interactivity and turn your content into something that adds value and engages. When carrying out a presentation, you must pursue two objectives: convey information and avoid yawns. To achieve this, it can be a good practice to create a scheme and use words that etch into the minds of your audience.
This is a paragraph ready to contain creativity, experiences, and great stories. With Genially's templates you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
+ INFO
remember to post
Here you can put a standout title, something that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we absorb comes through sight, and we retain 42% more information when the content is in motion.
Here you can put a standout title, something that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we take in comes through our sight, and we retain 42% more information when the content is in motion.
Here you can put a standout title, something that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we assimilate comes through sight, and we retain 42% more information when the content is moving.
At Genially you will find over 1,000 ready-made templates for you to input your content and customize them, which will help you tell your stories.
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that will be etched in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
In Genially you will find over 1,000 ready-made templates for you to insert your content and customize them, which will help you tell your stories.
Write a great title
With Genially templates you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. Also highlight a particular phrase or piece of information that remains etched in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Here you can put a standout title, something that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we assimilate comes through our eyes, and we retain 42% more information when the content is in motion.
Write a great title
With Genially templates you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that will be etched in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Here you can place a striking title, something that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we assimilate comes through our sight, and we retain 42% more information when the content is in motion.
In Genially you will find more than 1,000 ready-made templates for you to insert your content and customize them, which will help you tell your stories.
Bibliography
Here you can put a headline that captivates your audience
Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we assimilate comes to us visually and, furthermore, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.