The Birth of Cinema

    Cinema began in 1891 with the invention of the first moving picture device, the kinetoscope. This device was invented by Thomas Edison and consisted of film running through a box that, would display the images on the film to one viewer at a time. In December of 1895, the Lumiere brothers screened the first moving pictures for a paying audience. Color was then introduced to film in 1909, but it was limited mostly to documentaries and other films of a similar style. During this period, sound was still absent from movies, so viewers would read title cards inserted into the picture with the dialogue on them. 

    The next major advancement in cinema occurred in 1927 when sound was added to motion pictures. Alan Crosland's The Jazz Singer. By the 1930s, nearly all films were presented with sound and color began to take a more prominent role in cinema. With the addition of sound, movies could now reach audiences in ways never before seen. People could see in color, hear, and be immersed in the stories that directors want to tell. 

    The French New Wave movement of the late 1950s brought with it numerous changes and boundary pushers to shake up what had become the norm in the industry. Directors ignored the rules and focused on making whatever they wanted. This led to numerous films about subjects that were considered taboo at the time, new editing techniques, and other changes we still see the effects of today in modern cinema. 

    Further boundary pushing occurred in the late 1970s as movies like Jaws, the Godfather, and Taxi driver spur forward a movement of acceptance of violence and gore in movies. This acceptance of violence would lead to the creation and subsequent boom of slasher films in the late 1970s and early 1980s. John Carpenter's Halloween was the first picture of this type and it would go one to inspire the creation of Friday the Thirteenth, Nightmare on Elm Street, and numerous others.

    With the invention of the computer, a new world of possibilities was opened to filmmakers as computer generated graphics, or CGI, was created. This new CGI coupled with special and practical effects paved the way for George Lucas to see his vision for Star Wars through. Star Wars showed the world what was possible with this relatively new invention, and because of this, CGI continued to be iterated upon and improved again and again. 

    Film has become one of the for most mediums in the world for entertainment because of the extremely wide appeal with varied stories and possibilities they can show an audience. It has something for everyone as every movie has something different that it is trying to tell, show, or express to the audience. Directors are given the freedom to do what they want and how they want to in most cases, which gives them the ability to craft the stories they want people to see. Evoking emotion in an audience is made possible by the impeccable storytelling, incredible visuals, and the actor's performance, which would not be possible in any other entertainment form.