Final answer:
Experimental films are known for their innovative use of technology, subject matter, and image manipulation to create new sociocultural experiences for viewers, standing out from other film types like documentaries or historical films.
Step-by-step explanation:
Experimental films often include innovative technology, unexpected subject matter, and/or manipulated images. These films strive to create new experiences and ways of understanding, quite different from the conventional approaches of documentaries or narrative cinema. Thomas Edison might have been an early pioneer in the motion picture industry, but the field quickly evolved with figures like D.W. Griffith and the Lumière brothers pushing the boundaries of what film could be.
In the 20th century, experimental filmmakers continued to innovate, employing techniques like CinemaScope and Cinerama to enhance the visual experience of film. Ethnographic films also have their place in the experimental category, examining cultural processes and the relationship between the filmmaker and the subjects. Iconic experimental works such as Manakamana and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari exemplify the adventurous spirit and creative potential of this filmic form.