[On Early Cinema Spectatorship in Middlebury] Group Research Project/Individual Paper [20%]
Class group presentations March 13th; individual 5-7 page paper due Friday March 15th to Moodle.
The first section of the semester focuses on questions of spectatorship in relation to early moviegoing. We’re going to take this opportunity to research the history of spectatorship here in Middlebury (on campus, and in the town). I will assign research groups based on your interests. Together, you’ll embark on primary research on your topic, and compile your findings into a prezi poster and presentation, as well as into a small curated exhibit. Individually, you’ll write a short essay (5-7 pages) contextualizing your findings within the concepts of spectatorship and audience history we’ll be exploring in class readings and discussions. The topics for these projects include:
- Pre-cinema in Middlebury
- The early years of cinema in Middlebury 1895-1915
- The “golden age” of silent cinema in Middlebury 1915-1927
- The coming of sound in Middlebury 1927+
- Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater
- Middlebury’s Screen Queen Contest
- Moviegoing in student culture on campus
- Other______ [make a suggestion; we’ll see if it’s viable!]