Film Studies Resource Guide

The study of media influence examines how mass media affects the ways audiences think and behave. Media influence is studied through the lenses of disciplines such as sociology, communication, psychology, and media studies. It is also related to popular culture and public opinion. Discussions of media generally refer to traditional vehicles of mass communication, including radio, television, film, and print media such as newspapers, magazines, and books; digital forms of media include Internet services like e-mail, social-networking websites, and blogs. Advertising is tied to media as well and is designed to influence consumer habits.

I. Power and Role
II. History
III. Hollywood Industry Structure and Style
IV. Dimensions and Assets of the Hollywood Cultural Industry
V. Critical Issues in Hollywood Culture

I. Historical Development of Film
II. Influence of Film on Society
III. Film's Influence on Other Media
IV. The Future of Film

Articles in the Academic Search Complete database.

Includes articles from several databases.

Includes articles from several databases.

In this edition of Moyers & Company, historian and culture critic Neal Gabler joins Bill Moyers to discuss how representations of heroism in movies shape our expectations of a U.S. president, and how our real-world candidates are packaged into superficial, two-dimensional personas designed to appeal to both the electorate and the media.

In this informative three-part series, 33 distinguished directors reveal their secrets behind the craft of filmmaking. Directors such as Robert Altman, Penny Marshall, George Lucas, Nora Ephron, and Oliver Stone discuss how they got started and what exactly they do. The series also covers the art of writing a movie or choosing a script, dealing with actors, and the future of the industry. Film buffs will enjoy examples of how legendary scenes were staged and shot.