Introduction to Film Studies

by Chao Chen, Humanities Reference Librarian

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Chao Chen

book cover A Short Guide to Writing About Film by Timothy J. Corrigan. (Tisch book stacks: PN1995 .C66 2010)
Both an introduction to film study and a practical writing guide, this brief text introduces the reader to film terms and the major film theories, serving a great purpose for individuals who want to think and write critically about film.
Movie Reviews vs Film Criticism
Review Criticism
Critical Essay Theoretical Essay
Author written by journalist or staff of newspapers, magazines and trade journals from an entertainment, cultural, or artistic perspective. written by a scholar or other expert in the field of film studies written by a scholar, or other expert in the field of film studies

Audience
aims at the broadest possible audience, the general public with no special knowledge of film
for those who are "at least familiar with the film under discussion, although that reader may not have thought extensively about it."
for advanced students or readers who "posses a great deal of knowledge about specific films, film history, and other writings about film."

Contents


summaries of the plot or discussion of the film in another context (the director's other work, films of the same genre, etc.) that might help the reader understand it.

functions to introduce unknown films and to recommend or not recommend them.


a far more specific focus than that of a review in order to reveal subtleties or complexities that may have escaped viewers, for example, a short sequence at the beginning of the film, or on a camera angle that becomes associated with a specific character.
"Its aim is to explain some of the larger and more complex structures of the cinema and how we understand them." An essay, for instance, on the relation of film and reality, on the political or ideological foundations of the movie industry, or on how film narrative is unlike literary narrative.

tip: always check the Library Catalog to see if there is a newer edition of this book.


Tufts Library Catalog:

  • Sample searches:
  1. by subject, film criticism
  1. by keyword, "film theory"

arrow WorldCat (catalogs of libraries worldwide)



Procedure Note:

1. Verify if Tufts Library has the book you need.

2. Use ILliad (interlibrary loan service) to request non-Tufts books.

Film Art: An Introduction, 8th ed. PN1995 .B617 2008

Film as art: Creativity, technology and business -- The significance of film form -- Narrative as a formal system -- The Shot: Mise-en-scene -- The Shot: Cinematography -- The relation of shot to shot editing -- Sound in the cinema -- Summary: Style as a formal system -- Film genres -- Documentary, experimental and animated films -- Film criticism: sample analyses -- Film art and film history.

A few more titles to get you started:

Dictionary of Film Terms: The Aesthetic Companion to Film Art. PN1993.45 .B33 2006


Cinema Studies: the Key Concepts. PN1993.45 .H36 2006

This is a dictionary format to key theoretical terms, genres, film theory and film history. It includes an extensive bibliography.


Becoming Film Literate: the Art and Craft of Motion Pictures. PN1994 .L595 2005


Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings. PN1994 .M364 2004


Understanding Movies, 9th ed. PN1994 .G47 2002


Critical Dictionary of Film and Television Theory. Ref: PN1993.45 .C75 2001


How to Read a Film: the World of Movies, Media, and Multimedia: Language, History, Theory; 3rd ed. PN1994 .M59 2000


The Oxford Guide to Film Studies. Ref. PN1995 .O93 1998
Short essays on aspects of film (such as the text, acting, music), critical approaches (e.g., semiotics, psychoanalysis, post-structuralism, feminism), and history (American, European, world).


Film Study: an Analytical Bibliography. Ref. PN1994.Z99 M34 1990
A comprehensive four-volume survey of cinema "through a study of representative genres, stereotypes, themes, comparative media, periods, and film history".



Check the Library Catalog for newer editions of these titles.

A World History of Film. Oversize: PN1993.5.A1 S555 2002

Cinema, society, and science -- Early cinema --Film as art and industry -- The global spread of film-- Hollywood in the 1920s -- The cinemas of Europe -- Soviet cinema-- The transition to sound -- Hollywood genres -- Meeting Hollywood's challenge -- Documentary, propaganda, and politics --Film and World War II -- Italian neorealism -- Hollywood's struggles -- Art cinema of Europe and Asia -- Hollywood in the 1950s -- The French new wave --Cinema of liberation -- The new documentary -- American film: turmoil and transformation -- European films of the 1960s and 1970s -- Hollywood recovery -- The cinematic avant-garde -- The global advance of cinema -- English-language art cinema-- New European film -- World cinema -- American cinema: special effects and beyond.

International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers (online)

For films, the specialist's essay is preceded by production information, list of crew and cast and selected bibliography of works. Illustrated with many still photos.


A few more titles to get you started:

Oxford History of World Cinema. PN1993.5.A1 O96 1996

This is a dictionary format to key theoretical terms, genres, film theory and film history. It includes an extensive bibliography.


The Film Encyclopedia.. Ref. PN1993.45 .K34 1994

Articles on film history and filmmaking in individual countries. Numerous biographies and complete filmographies for directors and major stars.


A Guide to World Cinema: Covering 7,200 Films of 1950-84 Including Capsule Reviews and Stills from the Programmes of the National Film Theatre, London.. Ref. PN1995 .G84 1985


Magill's Survey of Cinema, Foreign Language Films Ref. PN1993.45 .M34 1985


Tufts Library Catalog:
  • Typical subject browse in the Catalog:
  1. motion pictures china (a country)
  1. motion pictures latin america (a region)
  1. bunuel luis (a filmmaker; last name first)
  1. new wave films (a movement, etc.)


arrow WorldCat (catalogs of libraries worldwide)



Procedure Note:

1. Verify if Tufts Library has the book you need.

2. Use ILliad (interlibrary loan service) to request non-Tufts books.

Tufts Library Catalog:

  • Typical subject browse in the Catalog:

Encyclopedia of Film Themes, Settings, and Series . Ref. PN1997.8 .A762 2001

includes over 670 entries on a variety of film themes, settings and series. Each entry contains a mini-essay that defines the topic, followed by a chronological list of representative films. The entries range from themes to settings, occupations, supernatural and mythological creatures, sports, animals--and of course hundreds more! The book also contains an extensive list of film characters and series, including: B-movie detectives; Western heroes; made-for-television film series ; and foreign film good guys and bad guys. Many entries are cross-referenced to direct readers to related topics.

Blockbusters: a Reference Guide to Film Genres. Book stacks: PN1995 .G663 2006

Introduction -- Action-Adventure -- Comedy -- Costume -- Epic -- Film Noir -- Horror -- Musicals -- Science Fiction-Fantasy -- Suspense-Thriller -- War -- Western -- Woman's Film.



Movie Reviews in Magazines and Newspapers:

  1. Film & Television Literature Index
  1. Academic OneFile
More Popular Press
  1. Book, Movie, Music, Play, And Video Reviews (in LexisNexis)
  1. Factiva (Many foreign language press.)
  1. Time Magazine (1923-Present)
  1. New York Times Historical Archive, (1851-3 yrs before current date; current years in LexisNexis)
  1. Times Digital Archive  (1785 - 1985)

Procedure Note:


Finding Full Texts

1. Click on the FindItAtTufts button to these three options:

  • a. link to the full text of the article when available digitally;
  • b. link to a Library Catalog search for the journal in print that contains your article.
  • c. link to ILliad for requesting the article when the above two options are negative.

2. Search for a journal directly here:


  1. Film & Television Literature Index
  1. Academic OneFile
  1. JSTOR
  1. Project Muse Click on the title to search: Project Muse

Browse some of the film studies journals here:

journal cover journal cover journal cover journal coverjournal cover journal coverjournal cover journal cover journal cover journal cover journal cover journal coverjournal cover journal cover journal cover

 

Film Literature Index 1976-200. (2002-04:Ref. [HUM] Z5784.M9 F45)

Film review index (1882-1985.) Ref. [HUM] PN1995 .F467 1986

Index to Critical Film Reviews. (1923-1971) Ref. Z5784.M9 B64

Retrospective Index to Film Periodicals, 1930-1971.

Retrospective Index to Film Periodicals, 1930-1971.

  • Film Statistics
  • Tip: use such keywords as "Statistics", "box office".
  1. Film & Television Literature Index

    Academic OneFile
  1. JSTOR (a much smaller number of journals;
    OMISSION of the latest 3-5 years.)
  1. ABI/INFORM Clck on the title to search: ABI/INFORM

Web Sites

  1. BFI Statistics on film and television
    UK film production, academy awards, box office, etc.
  1. The Hollywood Reporter: Charts
    Movie sales, box office, production budgets, etc.
  1. KORDA
    Database on public funding for the film and audiovisual sector in Europe.
  1. Lumiere
    Database on admissions for films released in Europe.
  1. MERLIN
    Database on legal information relevant to the audiovisual Sector in Europe.
  1. Nielsen EDI
    A Web based system that allows our clients to instantly access real-time film performance on a global, nationwide, regional, local or theatre level.
  1. The Numbers
    The largest freely available database of movie industry information on the Web.
  1. World Wide Box Office
    Current international box office numbers.

Search for Scripts (screenplays) in the Catalog:

More Sources

Published radio, television, and film scripts: a bibliography. Ref. Z7223.S3 P68 (only up to 1975)

The Drama Scholars' Index to Plays and Filmscripts. Ref. Z5781 .S17 (1974-1980 only.)

Search Play Index for radio and television plays.



arrow WorldCat (catalogs of libraries worldwide)



Procedure Note:

1. Verify if Tufts Library has the book you need.

2. Use ILliad (interlibrary loan service) to request non-Tufts books.


Script Writing

Alternative Scriptwriting: Successfully Breaking the Rules. PN1996 .D36 2002

Creating Unforgettable Characters. PN1689 .S44 1990

How Scripts Are Made. PN1996 .K24 1990

Storytelling in the New Hollywood: Understanding Classical Narrative Technique. PN1996 .T46 1999

Writing Short Scripts. PN1996 .P58 1999


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last updated: 1/20/09