Filmography of World History

(Hardback)

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Description

Global in scope and a practical tool for students and teachers of history, Filmography of World History: A Select, Critical Guide To Feature Films That Engage The Past includes description and analysis of over 300 historical films. A companion to Grant Tracey's Filmography of American History, this critical reference book selects movies that represent aspects of world history from the middle ages through the twentieth century. These films adopt as their subject a wide range of historical events, people and societies of Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Canada, and Latin America. Films are arranged alphabetically, with cross referencing by geographic area, time period, and five themes: History as Biography; Crossing Cultures; Civil, International and Sectarian Conflict; Society: Modernization and Tradition; and Redefining Historical Narrative. Each film entry includes production data, current U.S. home videodistributors, geographical and time setting, plot description, and references to critical literature. Over half of the entries provide extended analysis of the historical interpretation the film brings to the screen. Filmography of World History argues for the potential of feature films to teach us about the past and its reconstruction in academe and popular culture. The book offers an historian's perspective on films as varied as Ararat, Black Rain, Lin Zexu, Saladin, Winstanley, Judgment at Nuremberg, Distant Thunder, The Official Story, Cabeza de Vaca, Newsfront, Lumumba, Daresalam, and The Great White Man of Lambarn.

Reviews

This volume fills a gap in resources on historical feature films, introducing readers to films that are accessible and relevant to the study and teaching of world history. Schultz critiques Eurocentric and geopolitical worldviews, and offers diverse viewpoints by drawing from a range of national film traditions. Migration, Westernization, and cross-cultural exchange are prevalent themes.Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers; general readers. * Choice *
This work is a valuable filmography of world history that should prove essential to educators attempting to integrate feature films into the classroom. * American Reference Books Annual *
Schultz believe that, despite their characteristic divergence from historical fact, historical feature films are valuable in classrooms as curiosity builders for understanding world history. Here, she offers instructors synopses and reviews of approximately 300 films treating subjects in world history. Alphabetically arranged entries discuss the plot as well as the teaching potential of each film, and include cross references to other entries. Also included is a discussion of major themes such as civil war, cross-cultural exchange, and historical narrative. Entries are indexed by title as well as by subject and time period. The author took care when possible to include films offering native and non-Hollywood perspectives. * Reference & Research Book News *

Author Bio

Deanne Schultz is a University-College Professor in the Department of History at Malaspina Unversity-Collge in Nanaiamo, British Columbia, Canada. In addition to researching and writing about history's representation in feature films and the use of films in the classroom, she teaches a course on European history on screen. She regularly integrates films into undergraduate courses on Early Modern Europe, the Twentieth Century World, and Imperial, Weimar, and Nazi Germany.