Discuss the early classical style and philosophy of editing. Include the types of shots used, and ...

Classical cutting involves editing for dramatic intensity and emotional
emphasis rather than for purely physical reasons. Through the use of the close-up
within the scene, D.W. Griffith managed to achieve a dramatic impact that was
unprecedented. Close-ups had been used earlier, but Griffith was the first to use them
for psychological rather than physical reasons alone. Audiences were now permitted
to see the smallest details of an actor's face. No longer were performers required to
flail their arms and tear their hair. The slightest arch of an eyebrow could convey a
multitude of subtleties.