ESSAY: The Birth of Narrative (Part One)

[Frank W. Baker]

Fascinating look at the history of film from screenwriter/critic Paul Schrader, who writes in the current (July/August 2014) issue of Film Comment. He connects film with art, but his main point, in part one of this series, is to examine how technological innovation and changes have shaped the history of the medium.

He references DW Griffith's cutting edge use of "close ups" (to show emotion) and how big screen theatres evolved.

(Unfortunately, this is not online, but I did locate it on one of my library's subscription databases.  If you can't find it, pick up a copy of Film Comment. You'll be glad you did.)