FILM 190: Star Wars

In order to gain a historical perspective on the film, television series or media text that they are studying, scholars in film and media studies often start by researching the critical and trade discourse on the work around the time it was published. Published criticism and industry trade articles from that period are usually described as primary sources, as opposed to secondary sources. What does this mean?

When looking for this kind of information, use these questions to help guide your research.

• What date was the work (film, television series or media text) released? This helps to find reviews and trade articles about the film.
• When was the project developed, and when did it go into production? Industry trade press may discuss a film long before and after it was released, depending on its impact in the industry.
• What specific library or databases or other online resources hold the kind of information you're looking for?
• What time span does the database cover? Is the database likely to have the information you're looking for?
• Who is writing the article, and who is their intended audience?

When searching databases that contain both primary and secondary sources, pay attention what different kinds of sources you find and how they can be used for your research.