History in 3D

3D cinema is a unique phenomenon in Hollywood’s technological landscape. Whereas other technological novelties, such as colour, sound and scent were either embraced or rejected, 3D cinema surged into the heart of mainstream attention on three different occasions only to be forgotten shortly after. This course focuses on 3D cinema in the 3 periods in which it was at the height of its popularity: the 3D boom of the early fifties; 3D cinema of the 80s, and digital 3D cinema in the 2000s. Much of the academic and critical discourse of 3D cinema deems it as nothing more than a technological gimmick, void of any artistic or cultural merit, aimed at drawing audiences back to the theatre in response to declining box office sales. However, in light of 3D cinema’s inundating popularity, this course will suggest that this cinema possesses distinct poetics which enables it to engage with cultural zeitgeists in a unique manner which justifies renewed and more in-depth attention. In the duration of the course we will examine the existing explanations for the rise and demise of 3D cinema in the different periods and position it in relation to other audio-visual technologies of its time (such as Cinerama and Cinemascope in the early 50s, VCR in the 80s, and internet piracy and Virtual Reality in the 2000s). Against this technological and economic framework, the course will suggest another narrative which contextualizes 3D cinema in historic and cultural background, and views the ways in which 3D cinema is employed in different genres. We will discuss the different style of 3D films in different periods, and examine the use of 3D in specific contexts such as the documentary, the horror film and “arthouse” 3D.