Final answer:
D.W. Griffith and German expressionist filmmakers played significant roles in elevating motion pictures as a means of artistic expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advancement of motion pictures as a means of artistic expression can be attributed to various individuals and developments throughout history.
One of the key figures in bringing the motion picture to full stature as a form of art was D.W. Griffith, who produced and directed the first major full-length film, Birth of a Nation, in 1922. This groundbreaking film introduced innovative techniques and storytelling approaches that elevated the status of film as an art form.
Additionally, the German expressionist movement in the 1920s, led by directors like Fritz Lang and F.W. Murnau, utilized abstract sets and challenging themes in their films to critique societal issues and push the boundaries of artistic expression.