Routledge Companion to Film History

<p><em>The Routledge Companion to Film History</em> is an indispensable guide for anyone studying film history for the first time. The approach taken presents a substantial and readable overview of the field and provides students with a tool of reference that will be valuable throughout their studies.</p><p>The volume is divided into two parts. The first is a set of eleven essays that approaches film history around the following themes:</p><ul> <p> </p> <li>History of the moving image</li> <p> </p> <li>Film as art and popular culture</li> <p> </p> <li>Production process</li> <p> </p> <li>Evolution of sound</li> <p> </p> <li>Alternative modes: experimental documentary animation</li> <p> </p> <li>Cultural difference</li> <p> </p> <li>Film’s relationship to history</li> </ul><p>The second is a critical dictionary that explains concepts summarizes debates in film studies defines technical terms describes major periods and movements and discusses historical situations and the film industry. The volume as a whole is designed as an active system of cross-references: readers of the essays are referred to dictionary entries (and vice versa) and both provide short bibliographies that encourage readers to investigate topics. </p>