Q: Did this film movement introduce any narrative innovations? Or, alternatively, did it provide a new or unique twist on existing narrative conventions?
A: This movement showed a different side to a minority group by said minority group, opening audience’s eyes to the struggles they face everyday.
Q: Did this film movement introduce any stylistic innovations? Or, alternatively, did it provide a new or unique twist on existing stylistic conventions?
A: No.
Q: Did this film movement introduce a new film aesthetic? Or, alternatively, did it challenge existing film aesthetics in some way?
A: No.
Q: Did this film movement introduce any new filmmaking techniques? Or, alternatively, did it provide a new or unique twist on existing techniques?
A: No.
Q: Did this film movement introduce new financing, production, distribution, or exhibition practices? Or, alternatively, did it provide a new or unique twist on existing practices?
A: Many of these films were labeled as independent, as many major production studios were not interested in making these types of movies at the beginning. These films were often shown at theatres that only African-American consumers could go to.
Q: Did this film movement introduce new subject matter or address subject matter that had not previously been a subject for mainstream, popular films? Or, alternatively, did it address existing subject matter in different ways and/or from a different perspective?
A: It certainly was very different. African-Americans were sorely underrepresented in many films. If they were represented at all, they were often played by White actors in Blackface and portrayed to be a joke. With this movement, audiences were subjected to viewing things like Whites raping Blacks and lynching, all of which had never been seen before.
Q: Is there a significant relationship between this film movement and any social/historical conditions at the time that it took place?
A: This movement took place around the same time as the Civil Rights Movement.
Q: What is the artistic significance of this film movement?
A: This opened the doors to a lot of other creative voices be seen and heard.
Q: What is the cultural significance of this film movement?
A: This movement occurred at a time when the Civil Rights Movement was still happening. By these films being made, many people were able to see what it was like for African-American individuals, something that was never really thought of or talked about before.
