BLOG QUESTION: D.W. GRIFFITH PROBLEMATIC PIONEER

After delving deeper into the context of D.W. Griffith's life and career, what are your reflections on his contributions to film? How do you believe Griffith's influence should be perceived and evaluated in the context of 21st-century cinema?

 D.W. Griffith made major contributions to film through his use of close-ups, fadeouts, large amount of extras, and ginormous film sets, and use of cross-cutting. His film "The Birth of a Nation" was also the first feature film to have its own musical score. Despite its significance to the development of cinematic techniques, it had a very harmful impact towards African-American people, and was made with the intent of degrading Black civilians to maintain White Supremacy. In terms of his contributions to cinema, D.W. Griffith's influence was positive, but his overall social impact on America was negative.