Film Research: The Basics Gary Handman

Film Research: The Basics Gary Handman

1.Describes organization of library information 2.Point out some unique aspects of film as a research topic 3.Discuss how to select article databases (and determine what’s in them) 4.Discuss how to develop search strategies 5.Introduce a group of basic moves and features common to many online catalogs and indexes. 6.Practice using these features in selected databases

The Information Universe BooksBooks Journals (Magazines) & NewspapersJournals (Magazines) & Newspapers Government docsGovernment docs MapsMaps Media (video, sound recording, etc.)Media (video, sound recording, etc.) Computer files (e.g. CD- ROMS, data files)Computer files (e.g. CD- ROMS, data files) DissertationsDissertations ManuscriptsManuscripts & THE WEB… The guy next to me is soooo hot!

The Information Universe Not all books or journals are created equal Why/when books? Why/when journals

Current Scholarly/In-depth Pop and fan Historical Writing About Film… Industry

Periodicals (aka magazines, journals, serials)Periodicals (aka magazines, journals, serials) NewspapersNewspapers Pop periodicals: ReviewsPop periodicals: Reviews Scholarly and professional periodicalsScholarly and professional periodicals ReviewsReviews Critical analysis/scholarly writingCritical analysis/scholarly writing BooksBooks From schlocky to scholarlyFrom schlocky to scholarly Biography, genre writing, individual films, individual directorsBiography, genre writing, individual films, individual directors Web Sites (more about this later…)Web Sites (more about this later…) Other online databasesOther online databases Sources for Film & Scholarship and Research

Reviews: Assessment of aesthetic and content merits of a film  Found in popular periodicals, film periodicals, and (less often) in more scholarly journals  In pop periodicals: Current and Historical (older)  Usually cover current releases, more pop theatrical releases  Tend to be relatively short and relatively superficial (with some exceptions and depending on the publication and who’s doing the writing)  Interesting sources of info about audience reception and “current think” Reviews? Critical Writing? What’s the diff? Periodical Articles:

Periodical Articles: Reviews? Critical Writing? What’s the Diff? Critical analysis:  Discuss films in:  broader historical, cultural, political, artistic context and/or  Focus on a specific aspect of a film, film genre, or filmmaker  Found in books and scholarly or film-related journals  Tend to be longer, more substantive than reviews (with some exceptions and depending on the publication and who’s doing the writing)  Often include notes, bibliographies, other scholarly apparatus

Robert DeNiro Taxi Driver …But how do you locate this stuff?

The Information Universe Library Catalog(s) Journal/Newspaper Indexes (article databases)

Library Catalog(s)  OskiCat: UCB Library holdings only  MELVYL (CDL cat): All 9 UC Campuses An inventory of what the library owns Search by Author, Title, Subject Whole books and print and electronic journals, NOT what’s inside of those publications

The Information Universe: Books Doherty, Thomas Patrick. Teenagers and teenpics: the juvenilization of American movies in the 1950s Philadelphia : Temple University Press, UCB Main PN U6 D Get da Book in da Stax Call # Look it Up in Pathfinder or MELVYL by Author, Title, or Subject Look it Up in Pathfinder or MELVYL by Author, Title, or Subject :

The Information Universe: Finding Articles Article Databases (Indexes/Abstracts) Allow subject/author searching in a group of journals in a particular discipline or topical area. Produced by different commercial publishers; often look/act differently from one another. Some indexes also offer: Abstracts Full-Text UC e-Links

All databases are not created equal (or by the same company)… All databases are not created equal (or by the same company)…

Two possibilities: Links you to full-text in ANOTHER article databaseLinks you to full-text in ANOTHER article database ANOTHER Or Flips you over to MELVYL so you can locate a physical copy of the journal at UCB or elsewhere.Flips you over to MELVYL so you can locate a physical copy of the journal at UCB or elsewhere.MELVYL

Choosing an Articles database (index) Look at the listings of article databases available via the library includes listings by SUBJECT, NAME, etc. General Databases are often good places to start (particularly for newsy/topical issues) Listings of subject-specific electronic resources

Gary’s Desert Island Index/Article Database List No Now Playing

GH Desert Island Index/Article Database List: Current No Now Playing Academic Search Complete MLA Bibliography International Index to the Performing Arts JSTOR

GH Desert Island List: Film reviews No Now Playing Readers Guide Retrospective International Index to the Performing Arts JSTOR New York Times (ProQuest) Periodicals Archive Online Off-line: Variety Film Reviews (in MRC)

The Information Universe (Now) But Remember: Not everything is online!!!!!: Article Databases: Generally only go back yrs online (some exceptions – e.g. Historical Newspapers) Not every publication is indexed Fairly small (but rapidly growing) subset of the books and journal universe is currently available in full-text Online is Cool

The Information Universe Remember Also: Not every topic has lots written about it, either in books or journal lit. --Research on very current topics --Research on radically specific topics --Research on topics off the beaten academic track or off the pop culture radar

How to Begin? Before you click: THINK Formulate a concise, concrete statement of the research problem Formulate your search in terms of keywords and key phrases: The impact of television advertising and television violence on school performance and pre-adolesecent social interaction.

How to Begin? Before you click: THINK Think of synonyms for key words/phrases The impact of television advertising and television violence on school performance and pre-adolesecent social interaction. Children Youth Adolescents …etc. Commercials Ads …etc. Academic achievement Grades …etc. Media TV…etc Socialization, relationships, peer interaction…etc.

The Information Universe What to do if nothing is turning up: Tweak your topic: Broaden it / select a different angle Rethink your search strategy (new keywords, new concepts, etc.) Bail out completely and choose another topic

A few cautionary words about research on the Net LibraryLand The Net Google Rocks! Google Scholar google.scholar.com

Common Search Features: Basic and Advanced Search Screens Trunction: “wild card” that allows you to scoop up broader results:* # or ? Depending on db --e.g.: Advertis* will give you: advertise, advertising, advertisers, advertisements Search by keyword or by phrase Search specific fields (e.g., SUBJECT, TITLE) Use of AND, OR, NOT

Common Search Features: --Save list of good stuff --Mail Articles/Citations to yourself

FilmBibMenu.html a growing listing of bibliographies on various film topics and individual films compiled by MRC (includes bibs for genres, filmmakers, national cinemas, and individual film).

Connecting from off-campus

…being driven over the edge by your research? Call me: Gary Handman