16+ source guides

Free downloadable PDF files

These 16+ guides are for anyone studying the media, to help you identify possible starting points for your research. Key writings in books, periodicals and newspapers are listed, together with brief annotations; although the focus is inevitably on BFI - held material, we encourage you to explore both local and web resources. Happy researching...

Auteur Theory/Auteurs (updated 2008)

This guide sets out to give the user a few pointers in the direction of auteur theory, suggests some "auteurs" to consider, and generally tries to open up the topic, conscious that the "auteur" debate can be quite daunting...

Stardom (2007)

Until Richard Dyer's seminal work 'Stars' was published in the late 1970s little attention had been paid to the critical understanding of stardom. As the very nature of stardom shifts from era to era so does the criticism change shape, to reflect the different ways you can answer the not so simple question - what makes a star a star? This guide is an introduction to the basic theory and includes 7 case studies chosen to represent contemporary and iconographic stardom.

Popular Music in Film & TV (2007)

Popular music emerged as a staple of light entertainment in Britain, both for ITV and the BBC, in the 1950s - the decade when a definable rock 'n' roll genre appeared. The main body of this guide looks at popular music in film and television from that point on, with special sections on rap and hip hop, music video directors, and a case study on MTV.

Shakespeare (updated 2007)

So many interpretations and performances of Shakespeare have been seen on film or television, that the literature relating to these has, in turn, been vast. This guide is highly selective in honing this down. We are such things as dreams are made of, but we really couldn't cover everything.

James Bond (2006)

As well as listing and identifying general items on the Bond phenomenon, we cover every Bond, up to and including Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. We look briefly at the non-franchised Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again. Box office charts up to the time of compilation in 2006 are also given.

Adaptations, Heritage Film & Costume Drama (updated 2006)

The long-standing relationship between literary novels and film and television has often been an uneasy one. While critical writing has focused on the fidelity of the film to its source, film theorists argue for film's own visual language. The references provided in this pack will give useful material on the issues surrounding this debate.

Sitcom (2004)

From Hancock to The Office, Sgt Bilko to Seinfeld this study guide looks at the best British and US Sitcoms ever made. References will reveal how many popular shows weren't instant hits and how some were destined always to be cult classics.

Tarantino (updated 2004)

The classy set pieces, snappy dialogue and use of soundtrack in Tarantino's films are the template of many wannabe auteurs. Many have tried but none surpassed Tarantino's style. This guide enables the student to put Tarantino's work in a contemporary context.

Remakes (2004)

In recent years the genre of the remake has emerged with a vengeance, with kitsch film remakes of TV and classic films receiving modern make overs. The Remakes study guide helps the reader understand why the genre has thrived so much in the 21st century.

Experimental Film (2004)

As all film historians will vouch, today's cinema would not exist in its current format without the vision of experimental film-makers' who push the boundaries of possibilities to the limit.

Strong Women II (2003)

This guide acts as an addition to, and development of, Strong Women. Strong Women II not only reflects on the re-emergence of powerful women on the screens but also considers their transformation of the traditional gender representations.

Soap Operas (2003)

Soap Opera is one of the most important television genres, and the study of soap operas is almost as old as television studies itself. Covering UK soaps, this guide includes all the major works published since 1998, offering the reader a wide range of useful sources and providing an understanding of contemporary debates.

Horror (2003)

Humans share a peculiar desire to be scared, and it's no wonder that the horror genre is one of the broadest and complex areas of film theory. This guide ranges from the highly analytical to lighter offerings. All take horror as their starting point, but sometimes surprise the reader by what can be called a horror movie.

1990s British Cinema (2003)

From Shallow Grave to Bean, this guide covers 90s British cinema in all its diversity. Focussing on 10 major films, it also includes budget and box office information.

Strong Women (2003)

Not since the film noirs and melodramas of the forties and fifties have there been so many strong roles for women to play on both the big and small screens. From Buffy to Lara Croft, this annotated reference guide points you in the right direction in your research of strong women of the 1990s in both cinema and television.

TV Sci-Fi (2002)

Covering some of the main US television programmes shown in the UK, we have attempted to lead enquirers towards some background items about American television, and then some consideration of the genre, audiences and fans, before moving onwards and upwards to cover specific series.

Iranian Cinema (2002)

The cinema of Iran has been "discovered" by the West through acclaim bestowed upon a few major film-makers at festivals. Studying Iranian film can be quite tough for many reasons, but this guide tries to smooth the path towards understanding a distinct cinematic language.

Gangsters (2002)

The definition of a gangster film is not as simple as it might seem, as it overlaps with crime film, film noir, neo-noir and "gangsta". Our guide includes an overview, and case studies on the 1930s, African-American 'Hood films and some of the main UK contributions to the canon.

Docusoaps and Reality TV (2001)

Challenging soaps for ratings, programmes about real people seem to be turning us into a nation of voyeurs. With roots in observational or fly-on-the-wall documentary, the focus is on the personal and the intimate, but with a bottom line that entertainment must rule.

ImagineAsia: South Asian Film & Television (2001)

This guide provides pointers for students and others who wish to research the rich and diverse film history of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with a very modest amount of information on Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet.

1990s European Cinema (2001)

Though the UK sometimes has difficulty deciding how "European" it is, there has never been any doubt about the importance of European cinema. Focusing on the 1990s, this guide looks at a number of national cinemas, different aspects of the industry, and government/EU involvement.

Black British Film and Television 2001)

The black presence in film and television in this country has been significant but often overlooked. This guide covers the general background, the separate worlds of TV and film, and takes a concentrated look at case studies of Norman Beaton, Lenny Henry, and the 1975 film Pressure.

Animation (2000)

Animation has always been popular, but in recent times the established studios have been challenged by both computerized graphics and a deliberate "retro" look. This guide includes references to characters, animators and studios; the industry; and animation's international dimension.

60s British Cinema (2000)

Following some necessary background, this guide jumps into Free Cinema and the British New Wave, Schlesinger, Loach and Richardson, then considers Swinging 60s cinema, following up with a look at experimental cinema and overseas directors working in the UK.

Marketing (2000)

While film marketing is manifestly visible it's also shrouded in mystery: box office figures are relatively easy to come by, but details of marketing and promotional budgets may be very hard to find. This guide focuses on the marketing of five recent films and includes a glossary.

Censorship (1999)

Censorship has always been a contentious issue, as some argue for greater controls and others for more freedom. As well as some brief pointers on censorship in the arts and media, this guide looks at film, video and television separately, as well as the internet and computer games.

War Films (1999)

As Hollywood dominates English-language cinema it is no surprise that most of the materials in this guide are about US productions. The listing reflects the emphasis on WW2 and the Vietnam War, including the Missing-in-Action fad but also includes WW1, the Korean War and the Gulf War.

Modern Noir (1999)

Some call it neo-noir, some call it modern noir, some see it as an ongoing extension of classic film noir and some aren't happy with it at all, especially if the film is in colour. This guide attempts to convey the essence of the new noir...

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