Using Film as a Source: IHR Research Guides

The skills acquired in the fields of history, politics, English literature, sociology, cultural and media studies can all help to use film as 'historical evidence, ' but the study of film is a discipline in its own right. Film cannot be treated simply as a historical source, but rather needs to be understood as a distinctive medium, possessed of visual and textual codes.

This guide includes sections on working with different kinds of moving images, how to explore visual sources, how to undertake film-related research and how to use film theory. As well as detailed case studies on individual films and topics, it also offers advice on research, writing and studying, creating a methodology, visiting archives, accessing material and exploring films from a historical perspective. Everything included is also an example of good research practice, whether it be conducting an interview, visiting an archive, undertaking textual analysis or defining a research question.