Sociotechnical System Map

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We decide to focus on one special function of celluloid films, one that was barely achieved to this extent before its invention: the ability to make pictures move. There were similar technologies before such as shadow play and magic lantern. It was the celluloid film that has made a breakthrough in the history of motion pictures and brought about a brand new media age.

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In this sociotechnical system map, we build our perspective based on Marshall McLuhan’s tetrad of media effects. The map is divided into four areas according to the tetrad, but there are close connections between these areas and the boundaries are not absolute.

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Enhances

By using frames and developers, celluloid films can capture and represent images as well as carry sounds, which is a big development in communication techniques. Motion pictures can contain a lot of information and condense time and space. Furthermore, it takes the least time and effort for the audience to appreciate. It leads to the generation of the whole film industry and related markets. The demand for higher qualities of images gives birth to a series of film developers, which refers to chemicals that can convert the latent image to a visible image, to keep improving the technology.

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The rising film industry mainly grants power to two social groups: audience and producers/directors. On the one side, the audience enjoys and purchases the products, thus bringing interest to the industry and the producers/directors. They make up the film market from the bottom. On the other side, producers/directors have great power in dominating the environment of the film industry. They also belong to the audience sometimes and seek inspiration from them.

 

Retrieves

Celluloid film retrieves the power of light and sound. These fleeting natural elements are now converted to raw materials, waiting to be edited and represented. Histories, memories, and legends are disassembled into pieces and retold in a distinct way, which laid the foundation for a new form of art in the hands of producers/directors.

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Images on films can cross time and space, providing evidence for those that happened far away or long before. When an event is described in words or drawn/shot as a picture, it would be presented as a fragment. Instead, motion pictures can be far more continuous and immersive for most of the audience.

 

Obsolesces

Since that every fleeting moment in live performances could be captured on films, it posed great threats to traditional art forms such as still art or live performances. This has been argued by Walter Benjamin as the loss of “aura.” The audience quickly got used to the violent changes and rich details in the motion pictures, decreasing the power of contemplation in still art.

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Moreover, the obsolesce of traditional art forms changed many stage performers into movie stars who continue to receive worship from a large number of people. This transition further increased their power and also make them an important part of the film industry.

 

Reverses

Celluloid films soon received attention from governments and organizations and began to be used as an effective means of propaganda. Determined by its featured functions to represent and re-create, films are easily understood as well as manipulated. Motion pictures can reach out to a large audience at once and present subjective ideas in a seemingly objective way.

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Meanwhile, this invention just came in time before the beginning of the 20th century to meet the propaganda needs for the First World War and Second World War. Besides working with producers/directors, governments also have the power to control and censor the film industry to make sure that the films would not be “out of the line.”

 

Conclusions

Though as thin as paper, celluloid film is indeed a complicated technology when you begin to dig in. In the technical map, we will discuss the key components that build celluloid films as motion pictures: frames, developers, and film projectors. If celluloid film has not been invented in the 1800s, there may be no film industry as we know it today, and we would lose a powerful way of communication and entertainment.

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Admittedly, celluloid’s time is fading away as digital is taking over the dominance. The conclusion of the debate between these two should not be an either-or as they are both valuable choices to benefit this art. And even after being obsolete, celluloid film is still the one that has started the age for this media called “film,” and it deserves a glory place in the history of technology.