Denise Youngblood's 'The Magic Mirror' Examines Early Russian Cinema's Cultural Impact
In her 1999 publication, 'The Magic Mirror: Moviemaking in Russia, 1908-1918,' Denise Youngblood explores the influence of early cinema on the urban middle class in pre-revolutionary Russia. Released by the University of Wisconsin Press, this 185-page book delves into film production, audience reception, and societal impacts, positing that Russian cinema made entertainment more accessible to city dwellers. The work is structured into two parts: 'Scenes from a Film History' focuses on entrepreneurial efforts and audience development, while 'Fragments from a Film Program' investigates themes such as sex, violence, and humor. Youngblood’s research contributes to revisionist scholarship by connecting Russian modernity with Western influences, although the second section offers a less thorough examination of class and gender dynamics.
Key facts
- Denise Youngblood authored 'The Magic Mirror: Moviemaking in Russia, 1908-1918' in 1999
- The book was published by University of Wisconsin Press in Madison, Wisconsin
- It spans 185 pages and focuses on early Russian cinema from 1908 to 1918
- Youngblood examines cinema's role in shaping urban middle-class culture and modernity
- The study uses sources like trade papers, tabloids, and works by Lev Tolstoi and Leonid Andreev
- It is structured into two sections: 'Scenes from a Film History' and 'Fragments from a Film Program'
- The book addresses gaps in scholarship, contrasting with prior works on Russian middle-class culture
- Youngblood analyzes themes such as sex, violence, and comedy in early Russian films
Entities
Artists
- Denise Youngblood
- Anindita Banerjee
- Valentin Bill
- Laura Engelstein
- Louise McReynold
- Richard Stites
- Yuri Tsivian
- Lev Tolstoi
- Leonid Andreev
Institutions
- University of Wisconsin Press
- ARTMargins Online
Locations
- Madison
- Wisconsin
- United States
- Los Angeles
- Russia
- Madison, Wisconsin
Sources
- ARTMargins —
- ARTMargins —