Film Research: The Basics Gary Handman

Film Research: The Basics Gary Handman

1. 1.Describe the types and sources of information available related to film studies and other media research 2. 2.Discuss how to find this stuff in the library, using print and online resources 3. Practice using these features in selected databases.

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

Journals, Magazines, NewspapersJournals, Magazines, Newspapers ReviewsReviews Critical/ScholarlyArticlesCritical/ScholarlyArticles BooksBooks Web Sites (more about this later…)Web Sites (more about this later…) Other online databasesOther online databases Sources for Film & TV Scholarship and Research

Journal Articles: Reviews? Critical Writing? What’s the Diff? Reviews:   Found in popular periodicals, film periodicals, and (less often) in more scholarly journals   Assessment of aesthetic and content merits of a film   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)

Journal Articles: Reviews? Critical Writing? What’s the Diff? Critical analysis:   Found in books and scholarly or film-related journals   Discuss films in:   broader historical, cultural, political, artistic context and/or   Focus on a specific aspect of a film, film genre, or filmmaker   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

Found in: Popular & fan journals and newspapersPopular & fan journals and newspapers Film studies & scholarly journalsFilm studies & scholarly journals Web sitesWeb sites Fan and enthusiast sitesFan and enthusiast sites Commercial sites (e.g., studio sites, video distributors)Commercial sites (e.g., studio sites, video distributors) Academic sitesAcademic sites REVIEWS CurrentCurrent Historical (older)Historical (older) Francois Truffaut 400 Blows

Found in: Film studies & scholarly journals in other disciplines—eg:Film studies & scholarly journals in other disciplines—eg: Language & LitLanguage & Lit Women’s studiesWomen’s studies Gay/Lesbian studiesGay/Lesbian studies Area studies…etc.Area studies…etc. Web sites (even less occasionally…except for academic and commercial databases)Web sites (even less occasionally…except for academic and commercial databases) Critical/Scholarly Articles CurrentCurrent Historical (scholarly writing about film: 1950’s--)Historical (scholarly writing about film: 1950’s--)

Journal Articles and Reviews Arthur, P. “Godfather II." (motion picture review) Film Comment, v 11 (Mar.- April, 1975), p. 2 Reviews Greene, Naomi "Coppola, Cimino: The Operatics of History." Film Quarterly XXXVIII/2, Winter 84-85; p Critical/ScholarlyArticles

Jean-Luc Godard Books Scholarly/authoritative worksScholarly/authoritative works Pop schlock and fan worksPop schlock and fan works How Do You Tell em’ apart? Author’s credentials/affiliationsAuthor’s credentials/affiliations Publisher (e.g. BFI, AFI, University Presses vs pop press)Publisher (e.g. BFI, AFI, University Presses vs pop press) Scholarly apparatus and sources: notes, bibliographies, other documentationScholarly apparatus and sources: notes, bibliographies, other documentation If they’ve been widely cited by other scholarsIf they’ve been widely cited by other scholars

Inventory of what the Library owns: Books Books Media (video & sound recording) Media (video & sound recording) Journals (but not what’s inside of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Journals (but not what’s inside of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Manuscripts, documents, maps…etc. etc. etc. etc.) Manuscripts, documents, maps…etc. etc. etc. etc.) …But how do you locate this stuff? …Use Pathfinder Search by: AuthorAuthor TitleTitle Subject (keywords)Subject (keywords) Robert DeNiro Taxi Driver

Articles/Reviews (how do you find this stuff?) Film-related (not many exist) Film-related (not many exist) General news General news Literary and Arts Literary and Arts Other disciplines: e.g. Women’s Studies, American Studies, Ethnic Studies, History…etc. Other disciplines: e.g. Women’s Studies, American Studies, Ethnic Studies, History…etc. Jumping Off point for Finding Online Indexes: [find articles/by subject] Article databases and Print Indexes

Once You Find a Citation, How Do You Find the Journal/Article? Some indexes provide holdings info [UC eLinks]Some indexes provide holdings info [UC eLinks] Some indexes link to full-textSome indexes link to full-text If neither…use Pathfinder to look up the JOURNAL Metropolis Fritz Lang

How to Begin? Before you click: THINK Formulate your search in terms of: KEY WORDS and SYNOMYMS: --Looks for words anywhere in record: title, subject, abstract and full-text (if avail) PHRASES: --Looks for words in the exact order entered

How to Begin? Before you click: THINK Formulate your search in terms of keyword and key phrases: Sex [women, love, relationships] and Death [dying, mortality, fate] in the films [cinema, movie*] of Andy Warhol The representation [reflect* portray*] of gender [sex*] and masculinity [masculin*, male, men] in adult [erotic, pornographic] films [cinema, movie*]

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

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).

…being driven over the edge by your research? Call me: Gary Handman Review this presentation at: