This virtual-only webinar program, which takes place on Thursday, July 18 from 12:00-1:00 pm ET, explores the life and work of the film and theater director Rouben Mamoulian, with discussion of the new book “Peerless” by Kurt Jensen.

The Library has a collection of Mamoulian's papers, though it has not yet been digitized and made available to the public. Learn a bit more by reading the blog post linked to below.

• Of Note: Lessons from a Director's Chair Unfolding History

Students were fascinated that the first films were only a few seconds long.  The Library of Congress has a great collection of some of these early Kinetoscopic films.

I really loved this primary source photograph because it had so many interesting clues.  We began the class by analyzing this primary source with my students trying to figure out what was happening in the picture.  Many thought that it had to do with the Suffragettes and women's voting rights because they thought the men were politicians, and they noticed the women were in the background but not the focus of the photo.  I liked that several observed the word "Edison" and knew that he invented the lightbulb...so they then focused in on the chandelier in the photo.  I loved their use of prior knowledge in their analysis.  

Most watch the tv station "Nickelodeon" so enjoyed hearing that word and learning what it meant.  

If you've read any of   Talia Smith 's posts here in the TPS Teachers Network about her research into film history, you'll be pleased to read her official Teaching with the Library of Congress post! You'll find some excellent ideas for promoting student interaction with the silent films, including dialogue writing, movement, and sound - all in the service of understanding the place of storytelling in film and elsewhere. 

  Pre K - 2    3 - 5    9 - 12    Art/Music    English/Language Arts    storytelling    silent film