Movies

Movies as Mass Communication Early developments (early 1900s) – Nickelodeons (Pittsburgh; New York City) – Format of films

Movies as Mass Communication “Birth of a Nation” (1915, D. W. Griffith) – Film as cinematic art – Focus on social issue of national importance – Public reaction was strong – Difference between the book and the film

Movies as Mass Communication “Mainstreaming” of movies in society – Originally entertainment for working class – Movies then moved “uptown” – Star system developed – Movies became big business

Movies as Mass Communication Morality in movies – Local censorship boards – National Catholic Church – Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) forms in 1922 Develops Hays Code in 1930 Examples

Movies as Mass Communication Morality in movies (continued) – MPAA replaces Hays Code with modern ratings system (1968) – MPAA’s ratings system is administered by the Classification And Rating Administration (CARA) Board

The Movie-Going Experience Collective experience Sensory intensity Reality magnification We don’t analyze

Economics of Movie Industry Six major film studios – Disney, Time Warner, Fox News Corp., Viacom, Sony, GE/Vivendi, TimeWarner Movie production costs

Economics of Movie Industry Revenue streams – Box office sales – DVD rentals – Product placement – Merchandise & Licensing – Independent films