Theory and History

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 filmin history and culture.