D. W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation - A History of 'The Most Controversial Motion Picture of All Time'

In this deeply researched and vividly written volume, Melvyn Stokes illuminates the origins, production, reception and continuing history of this aesthetically ground-breaking and yet highly controversial movie. A must-read for anyone interested in the cinema, it sheds light on both the film's racism and the artistic brilliance of Griffith's filmmaking.

List of contents

• Introduction


• 1: Premiere in Los Angeles


• 2: Thomas Dixon, Jr


• 3: David Wark Griffith


• 4: Making The Birth of a Nation


• 5: Transforming the American Movie Audience


• 6: Fighting a Vicious Film


• 7: Griffiths View of History


• 8: After Birth


• 9: Conclusion


• Bibliography

About the author

Melvyn Stokes teaches American history and American film history at University College London. He has also been a visiting fellow at Princeton, a visiting Fulbright Professor at Mount Holyoke College and a visiting professor at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes in Paris. He has edited or co-edited nine books, including four for the British Film Institute.

Summary

In this deeply researched and vividly written volume, Melvyn Stokes illuminates the origins, production, reception and continuing history of this aesthetically ground-breaking and yet highly controversial movie. A must-read for anyone interested in the cinema, it sheds light on both the film's racism and the artistic brilliance of Griffith's filmmaking.

Additional text

...a fine book...Stokes book is well and clearly written.

Product details

• Authors: Melvyn Stokes, Stokes Melvyn
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 15.01.2008
• EAN: 9780195336795
• ISBN: 978-0-19-533679-5
• No. of pages: 413
• Dimensions: 159 mm x 235 mm x 32 mm
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Photography, film, video, TV; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; USA, Ethnic Studies, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, Films, cinema, Social discrimination & inequality, Social and cultural history, United States of America, USA, c 1914 to c 1918 (including WW1), PERFORMING ARTS / Film / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Discrimination, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Race & Ethnic Relations, c 1914 to c 1918 (World War One period), Racism and racial discrimination / Anti-racism, Social discrimination and social justice, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / General