2. Film, Race & Representation: Some Strategies for Research

4. Gary Handman Media Resources Center Moffitt Library ghandman@library.berkeley.edu 643-8566

5. 1. 1.Describe the types of writing and research about film 2. 2.Introduce selected sources for finding books and journal articles in film studies & related fields 3. 3.Discuss how to select article databases (and determine what’s in them) 4. 4.Discuss how to develop search strategies

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

7. Periodicals (aka magazines, journals)Periodicals (aka magazines, journals) NewspapersNewspapers ReviewsReviews Critical/Scholarly ArticlesCritical/Scholarly Articles BooksBooks Web Sites (more about this later…)Web Sites (more about this later…) Other online databasesOther online databases Sources for Film & Scholarship and Research

8. Periodical Articles: Reviews? Critical Writing? What’s the diff? 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)

9. 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

10. 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 HistoryHistory Ethnic StudiesEthnic 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

11. 1950’s1960’s Film Studies Film Scholarship Film Scholarship & Film Criticism Movies = 100+ Years Film Scholarship = 50 years 1895 Brothers Auguste & Louis Lumiere stage 1st public film screening, Paris Writing about film = fan and industry perspectives until 1950’s/60’s William Dickson (Edison labs) invents The Kinetoscope1889

12. Scholarly Articles and Reviews Ansen, David. "Boyz N the Hood." (movie reviews) Newsweek v118, n3 (July 15, 1991):56. Reviews Massood, Paula. "Mapping the Hood, The Genealogy of City Space in Boyz-n-the-Hood and Menace-II-Society. "Mapping the Hood, The Genealogy of City Space in Boyz-n-the-Hood and Menace-II-Society. Cinema Journal, 1996 winter, v35 n2:85-97. ) Critical/ScholarlyArticles

13. 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

14. …But how do you locate all this stuff? Al Jolson Catalogs: Pathfinder (Gladis)Catalogs: Pathfinder (Gladis) Article databases (Indexes)Article databases (Indexes)

15. Inventory of what the Library owns: Books Books Journals (BUT NOT what’s inside of them!!!!!!) Journals (BUT NOT what’s inside of them!!!!!!) …But how do you locate all this stuff? Search by: AuthorAuthor TitleTitle Subject (keywords)Subject (keywords) Media Media Manuscripts, documents, maps…etc. etc. etc. etc.) Manuscripts, documents, maps…etc. etc. etc. etc.) Pathfinder

16. 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. Article databases (aka Indexes)

17. Article Databases (how do you know which ones to use?) Jumping Off point for Finding Online Indexes: Jumping Off point for Finding Online Indexes: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/

18. Once You Find a Journal Citation, How Do You Find the 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 by title

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Once you’ve found something that looks promising, Check out the “official” subject headings

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

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

25. What to do if too much is turning up: Narrow your topic: e.g.: geographically, chronologically; by race, gender, ethnic group; Specific focus or aspect of the topic (e.g. ethical, social, economic, political aspects) What to do if nothing is turning up: Broaden your topic / go for the more general / select a different angle Rethink your search strategy (new keywords, new concepts, etc.) Bail out and choose another topic

26. Connecting from off-campus Instructions at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ HELP/CONNECTING FROM OFF CAMPUS

27. http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/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).

28. …being driven totally bananas by your research? Call me: Gary Handman 643-8566ghandman@library.berkeley.edu