Library: Middlesex Humanities (Art, Film, Philosophy, Theater): Film

Visual Literacy Videos available through Films on Demand

Very Short Introductions: Film

Film: A Very Short Introduction Film: A Very Short Introduction is a brief history and examination of the medium of film, studying its role and impact on society, as well as its future in the digital age. Considered by many to be the most dominant art form of the twentieth century, film is both a means of telling stories through images and sounds, and an instrument of illusion. Drawing on a range of examples from around the world, this VSI considers the paradoxical nature of film as a mass medium and fine art; as technology and fantasy; as documentary and fiction; and as amateur photography and film industry.
The History of Cinema: A Very Short Introduction Cinema was the first, and arguably the greatest, of the industrialized art forms that dominated the cultural life of the 20th century. It continues to adapt and grow as new technologies and viewing platforms become available, and remains an integral cultural and aesthetic entertainment experience for people the world over. Cinema developed against the backdrop of the two world wars, and over the years has seen smaller wars, revolutions, and profound social changes, with its history reflecting this. The History of Cinema: A Very Short Introduction looks at the defining moments of the industry, from silent to sound, black and white to colour, and considers its genres from intellectual art house to mass-market entertainment.
Silent Film: A Very Short Introduction Silent Film: A Very Short Introduction covers the full span of the silent era, touching on films and filmmakers from every corner of the globe and focusing on how the public experienced these films. Silent film evolved during three main periods: early, transitional, and classical. First seen as a technological attraction, it rapidly grew into a medium for telling longer stories. Silent film was genuinely global, with countries around the world using cinema to tell stories and develop their own industries. Although sound was introduced to cinema in the late 1920s, elements of silent film persist even into the twenty-first century.
Documentary Film: A Very Short Introduction Documentary Film: A Very Short Introduction takes readers along the diverse paths of documentary history and charts the lively, often fierce debates among filmmakers and scholars about the best ways to represent reality and to tell the truths worth telling. Key subgenres of documentary addressed include public affairs films, government propaganda  particularly the works produced during World War II , historical documentaries, and nature films. The thematic approach permits connections between eras, as well as revealing the on-going nature of documentary' core controversies involving objectivity, advocacy, and bias. Interwoven throughout are discussions of the ethical and practical considerations that arise with every aspect of documentary production.
Film Noir: A Very Short Introduction Film noir is usually associated with a series of darkly seductive Hollywood thrillers from the 1940s and 1950s—shadowy, black-and-white pictures about private eyes, femme fatales, outlaw lovers, criminal heists, corrupt police, and doomed or endangered outsiders. But Film Noir: A Very Short Introduction demonstrates that the genre has much earlier origins and is more international in scope. The key themes and styles of film noir are discussed along with some of the most iconic film noirs, exploring important aspects of their history and ongoing influence: their critical reception, major literary sources, methods of dealing with censorship and budgets, social and cultural politics, variety of styles, and future in a world of digital media and video streaming.
Hollywood: A Very Short Introduction Hollywood: A Very Short Introduction tells the story of Hollywood, from its nineteenth-century origins to the emergence of internet media empires. It recounts how the studio system rose out of the ashes of Thomas Edison’s trust to create the handful of companies that have dominated global screens and imaginations for over 100 years. It reveals that the elements taken to be a natural part of the Hollywood experience—stars, genre-driven storytelling, blockbuster franchises—are the product of cultural, political, and commercial forces. The challenges of new technologies, including sound, home video, and computer graphics, are explored and Hollywood’s responses to World War II, independent film movements, and regulations imposed by Washington are also examined.
Horror: A Very Short Introduction Horror: A Very Short Introduction argues that horror, while it is often understood as a disreputable popular cultural form, is in fact a major component of human civilization and culture. It is central to many of our foundational ideas, in art, literature, religion, and ritual. Horror is an important part of what it means to be human, and an important means of understanding the world. There are a number of major recurring themes within horror: monsters, the occult and the supernatural, the body, the mind, and scientific horrors and fears. What does horror look like now, since the millennium? Its preoccupations turn out very much to be our own: corporate control, the online life and its discontents, racial tensions, environmental fears, and the world under plague conditions.
Indian Cinema: A Very Short Introduction One film out of every five made anywhere comes from India. From its beginnings under colonial rule through to the heights of Bollywood, Indian cinema has challenged social injustices such as caste, the oppression of Indian women, religious intolerance, rural poverty, and the pressures of life in the burgeoning cities. Indian Cinema: A Very Short Introduction delves into the political, social, and economic factors which have shaped Indian cinema into a fascinating counterculture. Covering everything from silent cinema through to the digital era, it examines how the industry reflects the complexity and variety of Indian society through the dramatic changes of the 20th century, and into the beginnings of the 21st.
British Cinema: A Very Short Introduction British Cinema: A Very Short Introduction discusses cinema in Britain, considering its films and film-makers as well as its studios and sponsorships. It does this against the backdrop of changing artistic, socio-political, and industrial climates up to the present day. Cinema is indeed a powerful cultural medium, both reflecting and influencing society. The role of British cinema has been particularly controversial; it is sometimes derided, but also vigorously celebrated, especially for specific films and film-makers. This VSI traces how British cinema has developed its own unique path, and has been admired for its innovative approaches and distinctive artistic language.

Foreign Film Sources

Kanopy BASE Collection A collection of over 10,000 educational and feature films and documentaries in the Kanopy BASE collection range from core curricular subjects like Race and Class Studies, Sociology and Education, to subjects that cater to the whole student like Mental Health, Psychology and Health and Fitness. Many films on Kanopy—including from iconic suppliers like the BBC, NEON, Samuel Goldwyn Films, HISTORY, A&E, First Run Features Kino Lorber and IFC Films—are unavailable elsewhere.

Ten best Latin American Films of the Decade
Lists and descriptions of the top ten Latin American Films of the Decade.
Latino International Film Institute
News and information on Latino films and entertainers.
American Indian Film Gallery
A collection of 450 films about the Native Peoples of the Americas.
100 Greatest Foreign Films of all Time
From BBC Culture. Includes a top 100 list, as well as articles exploring various aspects of international film.

SWANK Digital Campus Movie and TV Show Streaming Service which grants free access to Swank's Top 500 Films Collection. These films may be shown in class or linked in Blackboard, but Public Performance Rights are not included with the Library license purchased.  CT State faculty who wish to request films for their courses may do so by completing the Request Form.

Documentary & General Film Sources

Retro Report
Retro Report’s mission is to arm the public with a more complete picture of today’s most important stories. We correct the record, expose myths and provide historical context to the fast-paced news of our world today using investigative journalism and narrative storytelling.
Top Documentary Films
Watch free documentaries online.
Movie Clips
Clips from popular movies that are fully searchable by actor, tile genre and more. Site is fully licensed and legal. Clips can be embedded into social media.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
More then just an award show. Includes history and current information about films as well as research and database links.
AMC Film Site
Lists of the "Greatest" and the "Best" in Cinematic History
The American Experience
A series of 250 films about events in American History, fully available online.
American Memory Collection
Hundreds of early motion pictures from the Library of Congress
Reviews: Netflix Movies & Miniseries
Reviews of original Netflix movies and mini-series from the film critics at RogerEbert.com.
Frontline
Acclaimed series of news documentaries tackling relevant, complex issues.
The Library of Congress National Film Registry

Middlesex Campus Library

Middlesex Humanities (Art, Film, Philosophy, Theater)

New York Times Movie Reviews

Variety Film Reviews

RogerEbert.com Film Reviews

Visual Literacy Videos available through Films on Demand

Very Short Introductions: Film

Foreign Film Sources

Documentary & General Film Sources