The Operatics of Cabiria (1914): Intermediality in Early Italian Cinema

Publication Date

Winter 2012

Description

This article presents an intermedial analysis of the Italian silent film Cabiria by Giovanni Pastrone within the cultural context of its time. Employing theories developed by Werner Wolf and Irina Rajewsky, the article lays out the intermedial and transmedial relationships of Cabiria with other media, in particular opera, literature, and painting, and illustrates that operatic references are incorporated recognizably during key moments of the film. By contrasting these references with specific cinematic techniques, Pastrone demonstrates that film is able to elicit an operatic sensation and that film is a distinct and valuable form of art.

Journal

Nineteenth Century Theatre and Film

Volume

39

Issue

2

First Page

1

Last Page

18

Department

Languages, Cultures & Linguistics

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