Synopses & Reviews
Film is the pre-eminent mass medium of the modern age. It is a valuable source of evidence for the study of both the past and the contemporary world, and is a social practice that has affected the lives of millions. How can historians engage with this important and influential medium?
Written for both students and teachers, Film and History:
• provides a concise, accessible introduction to the use of film in historical enquiry and a summary of the main theoretical debates
• charts the development of film history as a subject area and a discipline in its own right
• considers different approaches to film history, including film as an art form, as ideology, as a historical source, and as a social practice
• includes case studies to ground discussion of theories and approaches in specific examples.
Wide-ranging and authoritative, Film and History equips students with the methods both to analyse film texts and to understand the place of film in history and culture.
Review
'Written by one of our leading film historians,
Film and History is both accessible and lively and provides an ideal introduction to the subject.' - Peter Hutchings, Northumbria University, UK
Synopsis
A concise yet authoritative introduction to the use of film for historians, designed to equip students with the methods both to analyse film texts and to understand the place of film in history and culture. Chapman explores the main theoretical debates and approaches, and charts the development of film history as a discipline in its own right.
About the Author
James Chapman is Professor of Film Studies at the University of Leicester, UK. He is the author of a number of books on film and cultural history and is editor of the Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. A Brief History of Film History
2. Film as an Art Form
3. Film and Ideology
4. Film as a Historical Source
5. Film as a Social Practice
6. A Historical Sociology of Film
Conclusion
Glossary
Notes
Further Reading
Index