I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
This book covers D. W. Griggith's Birth of a Nation and how it was received by the audience, and how that perception has changed over time. The author gives an in-depth analysis of how the film was received by audiences when it first premiered. They then go into how the film moved into film and art clubs as a historic work to study. Finally, there is a discussion on how film theory and study developed, with Birth of a Nation being a central part of many curriculums.
This was an interesting look at the history of this film, and film in general. I was interested to learn the response of filmmakers to this. I also did not know the history of film going from being seen as a product to an art form.
This is a good book for anyone interested in film history, especially early film history.

Heavy and meticulously researched. A must for any old Hollywood fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Birth of a nation falls under mini “most of…“ The most racist, the most hate filled, but it also falls under mini first including the most artistically done and that has subcategories, but I’m not going to get into that in my review. Throughout the years the way we view the movie in the movies message has changed but the way historians an art lovers look at the cinematography the lighting the placement has not and this is where the rub comes in. In my opinion if you took the prettiest colors and painted a scene of a dismembered body even though the blood oozing out would be a pretty color you still know ultimately what the picture is but they have those among us who disagree and see Birth Of A Nation is a game changer. What is sad is that our culture is not so starred four autistic expertise that we need to hold on to such a horrible movie. In the book the author says have this movie been shot with normal lighting people today would probably not even know about it but like a train wreck or a pig with earrings and lipstick people still look for it and view it and although it isn’t in its original incarnation the message it tries to tell is the same. I am a big believer in freedom of speech and if people want to look at this I think that falls under their business I mean their politicians today that insinuate far worst then what’s available online from our present in our past. I think I am focusing too much on the crux of the argument they also had great chapters on the different eras and how they affected in the ebb and flow of the films popularity. If you like being a fly on the wall this is a perfect book I loved it and couldn’t stop listening to it. I thought the narrator Paul Heach did a wonderful job narrating the book. I love it and highly recommended I receive this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

At the time of its release, D. W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation was presented as “history.”

Except it wasn’t.

D. W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation was billed as "history" upon its original release in 1915, despite being based on a sensationalist, racist work of fiction. Griffith invoked arguments around Art and Freedom of Speech to justify his racist film which would go on to become heralded as one of the first great movies.

Professor of film and media studies Paul McEwan traces these on-going arguments in this fascinating, in-depth and authoritative book while, simultaneously, examining the rise of film as an artform and a medium.

It's an essential read for anyone who cares about film studies as well as on-going conversations around racism, history, and the on-going conversations around social justice in the United States and around the world.