Explore the beginning decades of cinema, the “silent era.” The silent era saw the rise of the Hollywood studios, movie stars and fan culture, and movie-going as a part of everyday experience around the world. Learn about a variety of films, directors, and stars from the late 1910s and the 1920s that have had lasting impact on the development of cinematic technique, performance, and film culture, as well as some films worthy of rediscovery. In addition to introducing participants to films from an era now 100 years passed, we will explore how the new medium of film impacted social and cultural life and how this new creative medium became a global art form.