Final answer:
The film 'The Birth of a Nation' was deemed significant by the Library of Congress in 1995 and was preserved in the National Film Registry due to its historical impact on filmmaking, despite its controversial content.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1995, the film “The Birth of a Nation” was considered “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in their National Film Registry.
The Birth of a Nation, directed by D.W. Griffith and released in 1915, was a silent film that depicted the Ku Klux Klan in a heroic light and portrayed African Americans in a highly controversial and racist manner.
Despite its contentious content, the film was recognized for its historical significance and groundbreaking filmmaking techniques, such as its use of advanced camera movements and narrative structure which contributed to the development of the film industry as a whole.
The film industry's evolution from such early controversial works to modern-day diverse storytelling reflects the changing societal values and technology advancements over the last century.