Library Guide for Africana Studies 100.4
Black Identity in Cinema

http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/asrc100_4.html

'Daughters of the Dust' Film Still

Interview with Curator of 2006 Harlem Film Festival

  Developing a Search Strategy
  Library Gateway Overview
  Finding Background Resources
  Finding Books
  Finding Articles
  Finding Images
  Internet Resources
  Evaluating Sources
  Citing Sources
  Research and Reference Help

   

DEVELOPING A SEARCH STRATEGY

Search strategy is the process of finding information in a logical, step-by-step manner. Using a search strategy insures that you will find the information and materials you need as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Research Steps

  1. Choose your topic
  2. Find background information
  3. Find books on your topic
  4. Find periodical articles
  5. Find networked resources or relevant Web sites
  6. Evaluate your sources
  7. Cite your sources

For more information about library research strategy and using library resources, go to Research Strategy: a tutorial.

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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GATEWAY

Library Catalog | Find it!: Articles Databases e-Journals Images | MyLibrary | Ask a Librarian | Individual Libraries

The Cornell University Library Gateway is the Cornell University Library's homepage on the World Wide Web. The Gateway lists information about the CU Library and provides access to library resources and services.

  • Library Catalog is used to identify and locate almost everything the CU Library owns in print, electronic, and other formats. This catalog reflects the majority of our collections, representing the holdings of 18 Cornell libraries plus the CISER Data Archive.
  • Find Databases provides access to over 1000 online indexes and abstracts, almanacs, catalogs, dictionaries, directories, and encyclopedias.
  • Find Articles allows you to search for journal article citations in more than one database simultaneously. In some cases, these citations will provide links to the full-text of the articles online.
  • Find e-Journals links to over 20,000 electronic journals licensed by Cornell University Library.
  • MyLibrary is a collection of personal electronic services, developed by the Cornell University Library, that can be customized to reflect your own personal interests and research needs.
  • Ask a Librarian lists numerous ways you can ask us your questions.
  • Individual Libraries connects to all of the CU Library's various libraries, divisions, collections, and programs.

Research Strategy and Process - An online tutorial offering instructions and suggestions on how to make your research skills and use of the Library more efficient and effective.

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FINDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Reference Sources

Blacks in American Films and Television: an encyclopedia
Bogle, Donald
New York: Garland Pub., 1988
(Africana Ref   PN1995.9 .N4 B672, and Uris Ref), also Olin stacks   PN1995.9 .N4 B672 +)

Contains brief critical analyses of black-oriented films and television programs in America. Divided into three major sections: 1) Movies, 2) Television, and 3) Profiles. Entries are arranged alphabetically within each section. The Movie section emphasizes mainstream American films but does include some race movies and other films not familiar to the mass audience. (Introduction) Does not cover documentary films. An index and selected bibliography are included.

Blacks in Film and Television: a Pan-African bibliography of films, filmmakers, and performers
Gray, John
New York: Greenwood Press, 1990
(Africana Ref   Z5784 .M9 G72x 1990, and Olin stacks)

The chapters of this bibliography include: Cultural History and the Arts; African Film; Black Film in the Diaspora: Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America; Black Film in the Diaspora: United States; Blacks in the American television and video; and the Black performer. In addition, appendixes include "Reference Works" and "Film Resources." There are also artist, title, subject and author indexes. This is strictly a bibliography: aside from the introduction, there are no essays or annotations.

The Encyclopedia of American Independent Filmmaking
LoBrutto, vincent
Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002
(Olin Ref   PN1993.45 .L63 2002)

Surveys independent film "from cinema's inception through the 21st century, with alphabetical entries discussing filmmakers, significant films, genres, critical views, industry information, working methods, etc. (jacket copy) Appendices include lists of important films, independent film award winners and distributors." Bibliography, indexed.

Encyclopedia of the Documentary Film
Ian Aiken, ed.
3 Vols. New York: Routledge, 2006
(Olin Ref   PN1995.9 .D6 E53 2005 +)

"With over 800 articles from scholars around the world, the Encyclopedia of the Documentary Film is a fully international reference work on the history of the documentary film from the Lumière brothers' Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory (1885) to Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911 (2004)....Not only does this Encyclopedia examine individual films and the careers of individual film makers, it also provides overview articles of national and regional documentary film history. It explains concepts and themes in the study of documentary film, the techniques used in making films, and the institutions that support their production, appreciation, and preservation. With over 200 film stills, this resource provides the decisive entry point into the history of an art form." (Publisher)

Films for, by and about Women
Sullivan, Kaye
2 Vols. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1985
(Olin Ref   Z7962 .S95 1985)

An annotated bibliography, listing films, film sources and women film makers. Film annotations include date of release, running time, whether it appears in color or black and white, and names of director, screenwriter and producer. Some slides, videotapes, and 8mm films and film strips are included, but the majority of items are 16mm films. Volume II updates and complements volume I. A subject listing at the back of both volumes is very useful.

Film Study: an analytical bibliography
Manchel, Frank
4 Vols. Rutherford: Farleigh Dickinson University Press; London: Associated University Presses, 1990
(Olin Ref   Z5784 .M9 M26 1990)

An updated, greatly expanded, retitled edition of Film Study: a resource guide (1973), Manchel's four-volume combination handbook/bibliography deals with: general topics in film study, film genres, stereotyping in film, thematic approaches, literature and film, representative period of American film, history of film and national cinemas, and film study. Each lengthy, discursive chapter opens with an overview essay describing the background and other relevant aspects of that chapter's topic. More than 2,000 books on film are treated with unusual depth. Essays are then followed by annotated citations to films, articles, and books about film. Indexes provide access by article title, author, film title and subject. Volume 4's appendices reproduce a variety of documents, such as "The Production Code of the Motion Pictures Producers and Directors of America, Inc. -- 1930-1934," as well as lists of sources for further study. Though somewhat cumbersome in arrangement, few if any film reference books match its scope.

Frame by Frame: a black filmography
Klotman, Phyllis Rauch
Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1997
(Olin stacks   PN1995.9 .N4 K57x 1997)

"Films listed are those with black themes or subject matter--even before Blacks acted in them; films that have substantial participation by blacks..., and films in which blacks appeared in ancillary or walk-on roles." (How to Use this Volume) This is a standard filmography for the period 1900 to 1977. Entries are brief, but many are annotated.

Frame by Frame II: a filmography of the African American image, 1978-1994
Klotman, Phyllis Rauch and Gloria J. Gibson
Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1997
(Africana Ref   PN1995.9 .N4 K58x 1997, and Olin stacks)

"A compendium of approximately 3,000 productions made between 1978 and 1994. ...; films featuring substantial participation by African Americans as screenwriters, actors, producers, directors, musicians, and consultants; and films in which they play incidental roles." (Publisher's Web site)

Frame by Frame III: a filmography of the African diasporan image, 1994-2004
McCluskey, Audrey Thomas, ed.
Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2007
(Olin Stacks   PN1995.9 .N4 F73 2007)

Documents the participation of African Americans in cinema and their contributions to the art of filmmaking. This book covers the years from 1994 to 2004, including listings of black cast members, directors, executive producers, film composers, performers, producers, screenwriters, and Academy Award winners and nominees.

The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers
Pendergast, Tom and Sara Pendergast, eds.
4 Vols. 4th ed. Detroit: St. James Press, 2000
Available online through the Library Catalog

Also available in print
(Olin Ref   PN1993.45 .I61 2000, and Uris Ref)

Vol. I of this four-volume set lists and describes approximately 650 international and historical films. Descriptions include production information, a cast list, a plot summary, an essay of the film's place in film history, and a lengthy bibliography.
Vols. II-IV focus on Directors/Filmmakers, Actors and Actresses, and Writers and Production Assistants.

Multicultural films: a reference guide
Welsch, Janice R. and J.Q. Adams
Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2005
(Olin Ref   PN1995.9 .M56 W45 2005 +)

"Arranged by race/ethnic group, Multicultural Films identifies and analyzes films relating the experiences of the following groups: African Americans, Arab Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans, Latino/a Americans, Native Americans, and includes Intercultural films, those depicting the experiences of more than one group. After providing a plot summary of each film, the authors critique it, proposing points of focus and discussion for the viewer. Films that will appeal to a variety of different ages are included, with ratings given when possible, and all are currently available for purchase. A thematic guide will help identify films for students and educators on specific topics and issues for each minority group." (Publisher's Web site)

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FINDING BOOKS

The CU Library Catalog

  • Includes the holdings of 19 Cornell University libraries (over 7 million items).
  • Contains records for books, DVD's/videos, sound recordings, magazines/newspapers/journals, computer files, government documents, manuscripts and archives, maps, musical scores, and more.
  • For help searching the library catalog, see a librarian or go to the catalog's help pages.
  • Not finding what you need? Try searching library catalogs worldwide.

If we do not have a BOOK in our holdings, or if the book you need is already checked out:

Borrow Direct
Click on the link above, connect to Borrow Direct, search for the book and if it's available from another Ivy League university, we will have it shipped to Cornell. Borrowing period is one month. Books arrive in 3-4 business days. (This service is for BOOKS only).

If we don't own an item that you need (any item -- journal article, DVD, dissertation, etc.):

Interlibrary Loan Services
If Cornell Library does not have an item you need, Use ILLiad (InterLibrary Loan Internet Accessible Database) to request that we borrow materials from other libraries. Loan period is usually one month. Items can arrive in as little as a few days to a couple of weeks.

Please also familiarize yourself with our other delivery services.

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FINDING ARTICLES

Periodical Indexes

Periodical indexes are resources that identify and locate articles in journals, magazines, and newspapers. Increasingly, indexes are available as online databases that will often provide access to the full text of the articles.

Black Studies Database
Baltimore, MD: National Information Services Corp., 1997-
Available online through Find it! Databases or the Library Catalog

Covers events of Black life and culture outside of Africa including notable figures in Black history, culture, and sports; the Civil Rights Movement; the growth of the NAACP and the National Urban League; the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; jazz and soul music.

Ethnic NewsWatch
Stamford, CT: Softline Information, 1990-
Available online through Find it! Databases or the Library Catalog

Ethnic NewsWatch is a full-text collection of the newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press from 1960.

Index to Black Periodicals
Detroit: Gale Group, 2000-
(Africana Ref   Z1361 .N39 I38, and Olin Ref)

A yearly author and subject index to about 25 Afro-American periodicals of general and scholarly interest. The journals which are included cut across such disciplines as psychology, sociology, education, history and popular culture, etc. It was formerly called the Index to Periodicals By and About Blacks, and is the best source available for articles from black journals. It contains entries from the Index to Black Periodicals from 1984. Black Studies on disc (1995-2004) is available at Africana.

International Index to the Performing Arts: IIPA Full Text
Alexandria, VA: Chadwyck-Healey, Inc.; Ann Arbor, MI: Bell and Howell Information and Learning Company, 1999-
Available online through Find it! Databases or the Library Catalog

IIPA Full Text covers a broad spectrum of the arts and entertainment industry--including dance, film, television, drama, theater, stagecraft, musical theater, broadcast arts, circus performance, comedy, storytelling, opera, pantomime, puppetry, magic and more. Each full text in the file contains an abstract.

JSTOR
New York, NY: JSTOR, 1996-
Available online through Find it! Databases or the Library Catalog

JSTOR is a fully-searchable database containing the back issues of several hundred scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, music, ecology and botany, business, and other fields. It includes the following collections: Arts & sciences I, II and III, General science, Ecology and botany, Business, Language and literature.

MLA International Bibliography
New York, N.Y.: Modern Language Association, 1926-
Available online through Find it! Databases or the Library Catalog

MLA bibliography is the largest and most comprehensive database covering scholarship in the modern languages, linguistics, literature, folklore, and drama, including film, opera, radio, television and theater. Literary criticism and literary theory are covered extensively. Approximately 4,000 journals and series are screened, and entries for books are included. Entries appear both for collections of essays and for their contents.

Periodicals Index Online
Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest Information and Learning Co., 1770-1993
Available online through Find it! Databases or the Library Catalog

Previously known as Periodicals Contents Index (PCI). Index to thousands of periodicals in the humanities and social sciences, covering each periodical from its first issue. Every article is indexed. The scope is international, including journals in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and other languages. Not only a good source for academic articles on film, but for film reviews as well (e.g., a title keyword search, strangers AND train, will retrieve several original reviews of Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train).

ProQuest Research Library
Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest Information and Learning Co., 1986-
Available online through Find it! Databases or the Library Catalog

Research Library, formerly known as Periodical Abstracts, is a comprehensive database available through the ProQuest online system. It indexes and abstracts general interest magazines and scholarly journals in the social sciences, humanities and sciences.

Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature
New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1900-
(Uris Ref   AI3 .R28, and Olin Ref - through 1996)

Indexes film reviews in general interest periodicals alphabetically by title under the headings Moving Picture Plays--Criticism (earlier volumes) or Motion Picture Reviews.

Web of Science: Arts & Humanities Citation Index
Stamford, CT: Thomson Corp., 1975-
Available online through Find it! Databases or the Library Catalog

ISI citation databases are multidisciplinary databases of bibliographic information indexed to be searched by subject, author, journal, and/or author address. The Arts & Humanities component covers back to 1975.

Film Indexes

FIAF International Filmarchive Database
Boston, MA: SilverPlatter Information Services, 2001-

Also in print,
(Olin Ref   PN1993 .I61 +, 1972-)

Contains: International Index to Film Periodicals, 1972-; International Index to Television Periodicals, 1979-; List of Periodicals Indexed; Treasures from the Film Archives; International Directory of Film and TV Documentation Collections; and Bibliography of FIAF Members’ Publications.

Film Literature Index
Bloomington, IN: Indiana University, 1976-2001

Also in print,
(Olin Ref   PN1993 .F479, 2002 to date)

The Film Literature Index (FLI) annually indexes 150 film and television periodicals from 30 countries cover-to-cover and 200 other periodicals selectively for articles on film and television. The periodicals range from the scholarly to the popular. More than 2,000 subject headings provide detailed analysis of the articles. The FLI Online contains approximately 700,000 citations to articles, film reviews and book reviews published between 1976-2001. You can search the citations or browse by subject headings, browse by person names, browse by production titles, or browse by corporate names. In print: 2002 - current volumes.

International Index to Film Periodicals
Boston, MA: SilverPlatter Information Services, 2001-
Available online through Find it! Databases or the Library Catalog

Also in print,
(Olin Ref   PN1993 .I61 + 1972-)

An annual publication compiled by the International Federation of Film Archives. It indexes about 60 to 85 periodicals that are exclusively devoted to film.

Retrospective Index to Film Periodicals
Batty, Linda
New York: R.R. Bowker Co., 1975
(Olin Ref   PN1993 .B33 +)

Indexes 14 journals plus articles on film that have appeared in The Village Voice, a weekly newspaper covering art, film, music, and theater. The index is divided into three sections: films, titles, subjects and reviews. Indexing for most of the journals included -- the Village Voice excepted -- is continued in the International Index to Film Periodicals (described above).

Film Review Indexes

Film Review Annual
Englewood: J.S. Ozer, 1981/1982-
(Olin Ref   PN1995 .F48)

Issued annually, this source reprints reviews from a wide range of newspapers and magazines of full length films released in major markets in the U.S. Arranged by title of the film, entries include credits and playing time. Indexed by critics, cast, producers, and directors.

Film Review Index
Phoenix: Oryx, 1986
(Olin Ref   PN1995 .F483)

This index lists articles about specific films which have established themselves over the years as being of continuing interest to researchers and students. Coverage begins in 1882; however, the primary focus of this two-volume set begins in 1903. Vol. 1 covers the years from 1882-1949; Vol. 2, from 1950-1985.

Media Review Digest
Ann Arbor: Pierian, 1973-
(Uris Ref   AI3 .M961)

Formerly Multi Media Reviews Index (1970-1973), this is "an annual index to and digest of reviews, evaluations and descriptions of all forms of non-book media appearing in a great variety of periodicals and reviewing serves." Films, filmstrips, spoken word records and tapes and miscellaneous non-book items are included. Each entry provides a brief description, citations to reviews and a review rating.

New York Times Directory of the Film
New York: Arno, 1973
(Olin Ref   PN1995 .N39)

A reprinting of the personal name and corporate name index sections from the index volume of the New York Times Film Reviews. It is useful since the reference in the citation is to the date and the page of the newspaper. The list of awards and reviews of the yearly " Ten Best" films has been updated every year since 1970.

New York Times Film Reviews
New York: Times and Arno, 1913
(Uris Ref   PN1995 .N56 ++, and Olin Ref)

Originally published in 1970 as a six volume set, duplicating Times reviews for the years 1913-1968 with update volumes through 1982. Each volume is arranged in chronological order and gives full texts of reviews which appeared in the Times on a given date. Title access is available through indexes at the end of the volumes. Reviews are signed, though some with initials only. Numerous photographs.

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FINDING IMAGES

There are a number of databases available for finding images in Find It! Images.

Use the Quick search to search for images by keyword or words. A Quick search retrieves images from the following databases: AccuNet/AP Multimedia Archive, American Memory (Library of Congress Web site), Artstor, Catalog of Art Museum Images Online (CAMIO), and NYPL digital (New York Public Library Digital Gallery).

Use the Images Subject Area list to identify and search additional image databases.

Look for the     icon in other Subject areas for subject specific image resources.

To browse for image collections owned or licensed by the Cornell University Library, go to Find It! Images, select Image Tools, then click on Find Image Resource.

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INTERNET RESOURCES

Use web portals, search engines, or Internet subject guides to find resources or sites on the World Wide Web on your topic. Search Engines are software programs that allow you to search the contents of web pages and Subject Guides are web pages that use menus and lists to sort and classify web sites.

Question and evaluate the information that you find on web pages. As you would do with books and journal articles, look to see who is responsible for producing the web page or site that you are accessing. How objective is the information? How accurate or truthful? How authoritative? Go to the Evaluating Sources section of this page for more information on how to assess the web sites you have accessed.

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EVALUATING SOURCES

Evaluating the sources you find is a crucial step in the process of library research. The questions you ask about books, periodical articles, or multimedia sources are similar whether you're looking at a citation to the item or have the item in hand.

How to Critically Analyze Information Sources lists some of the critical questions you should ask when you consider the appropriateness of a particular book, article, media resource, or Web site for your research.

Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals: A Checklist of Criteria shows how to evaluate periodicals by looking at their format, intended audience, and appearance.

Evaluating Web Resources lists ways to analyze the web sites you find.

Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Sites offers a table of suggestions.

For additional suggestions specific to Web sites, see Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools.

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography.

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CITING SOURCES

APA Citation Style
(American Psychological Association)

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.)

Africana, Hotel, Management, Olin, and Uris Libraries
BF 76.7 .P83x 2001x
(located at the Reference Desks)

Also in ILR and Mann Reference at
BF 76.7 .A51 2001

APA Citation Style (CUL Gateway Help pages)

APA Reference Examples for Electronic Source Materials (Excerpted from the 5th edition of the Publication Manual)

APAStyle.org (APA's web site)

MLA Citation Style
(Modern Language Association)

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
(6th ed.)

Olin and Uris Libraries Z253 .M68 2003
(located at the Reference Desks)

MLA Citation Style (CUL Gateway Help pages)

MLA Style (MLA's web site)

 

RefWorks is a web-based program that allows you to easily collect, manage, and organize bibliographic references by interfacing with databases. RefWorks also interfaces directly with Word, making it easy to import references and incorporate them into your writing, properly formatted according to the style of your choice. RefWorks workshops are offered at Uris Library, Mann Library.

EndNote allows you to build your own database of bibliographic references from a variety of resources, including library catalogs and periodical indexes. EndNote interfaces with several standard word processing programs and provides direct connections to resources, making it easy to import references and incorporate them in your writing. EndNote (or RefWorks) is highly recommended for researchers. EndNote workshops are regularly held on campus at Uris Library and Mann Library.

Cornell University Code of Academic Integrity

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RESEARCH AND REFERENCE HELP

Library Gateway Help

CU Library Catalog Help

LiveHelp     New online Reference Help service   ( See hours )

Olin Kroch Uris Reference e-mail address: okuref@cornell.edu

Reference Desk Directory

Reference Desk Schedules in Olin and Uris Libraries

Olin Library Reference phone number: 255-4144

Uris Library Reference phone number: 255-2339

OKU Research Consultations

OKU Workshop Schedule

Writing Walk-in Service (Knight Institute) -- available in Olin Library, room 403

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        Evaluate your learning in this class        

October 09, 2007 (nm)
Tony Cosgrave, ajc5@cornell.edu
Collections, Reference, Instructions and Outreach
Cornell University Library
URL: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/asrc100_4.html


Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853
PSA: Public Services and Assessment
Information and reference: 607-255-4144, okuref@cornell.edu
Circulation: (Olin) 607-255-4245, (Uris) 607-255-3537, olincirc@cornell.edu