READING FILMS AS HISTORICAL SOURCES
HOW DO WE EXTRACT EVIDENCE FROM FILM?
O ONE WAY THAT HISTORIANS CAN USE MOVIES IS AS A MIRROR OF THE
AGE – CONTEMPORARY FILMS GIVE GRAPHIC IMPRESSIONS OF THE WAY
ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVED, DRESSED, TALKED, WORKED, PLAYED AND
RELATED TO ONE ANOTHER (OR NOT)
O WHAT IS MORE REVEALING BUT HARDER TO ASCERTAIN IS THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PERSISTING THEMES, IMAGES, STYLES, GENRES,
LEGENDS, AND MYTHS, THAT GIVE MOVIES THEIR FORCE AND VITALITY
THERE ARE BOTH PROBLEMS AND POSSIBILITIES WITH USING FILMS AS
SOURCES OF HISTORICAL EVIDENCE.
O FILMS ARE DIFFICULT TO STUDY – ART FORMS HAVE MULTIPLE
MEANINGS
O WE NEED TO REMAIN AWARE THAT HOLLYWOOD FILMS ARE MADE AS
ENTERTAINMENT – BUT WE DON’T HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT A
LIMITATION
O IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE FILMS ARE MADE FOR ENTERTAINMENT THAT
THEY HAVE VALUE FOR THE HISTORIAN
O THEY TELL US WHAT MADE PEOPLE OF OTHER TIMES LAUGH OR CRY,
WHAT MADE THEM FORGET THEIR TROUBLES, AND WHAT THEY BELIEVED
ABOUT THEIR PAST
O CHANGING TASTES IN MOVIE FARE FROM DECADE TO DECADE AND YEAR
TO YEAR MAY HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THE CHANGING VALUES AND
CONCERNS OF PEOPLE OVER TIME
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR WRITING YOUR FILM ANALYSES:
First, watch the film and make notes about its approach to historical questions. What themes,
issues and past events does the film deal with? Make sure you understand the historical context.
You will need to consider questions such as how the film portrays historical events, what
techniques are used, the point of view of the director, the use of symbolism, and so on.
Second, choose one or more of the themes that the film deals with that correspond with themes
that we are focusing on in the course. Drawing on readings and lectures for the course, write
a historical analysis of the theme or themes. For example, you might compare the treatment of
the theme or historical issue with the way/s it is treated in the textual sources.
Third, include in your paper an assessment of the value of the film for the recreation (or
invention) and understanding of history. What messages did the filmmakers intend? What values
and ideas do these messages reinforce or challenge? How accurately are the period, place,
people, and events depicted? If there are inaccuracies or incongruities, why might they have been
included? Does the film build up or break down particular myths? Is it possible that the film is
simply set in the past and is really about contemporary issues?