Teaching With Hollywood:
Strategies for Working with Feature Film in the U.S. History Classroom
Bibliography
Carnes, Mark C., ed. Past Imperfect: History According to the Movies. New York: Henry Holt, 1995.
Past Imperfect contains essays written by historians on more than fifty Hollywood films. The essays work to clear up any historical inaccuracies and misconceptions created by the films.
“Film Projects.” Reel American History. Lehigh University. Available at: http://www.lehigh.edu/~ineng/ejg/rahfp.html
The “Film Projects” site is an excellent resource for teachers interested in suggestions for film resources and strategies. The site is organized topically and contains a synopsis, scene log, listing of key passages, historical context essay, an image gallery, and other information for over thirty feature films
Fuller, Kathryn Helgesen. “Lessons from the Screen: Film and Video in the Classroom.” American Historical Association. Available at: http://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/1999/9904/9904FIL3.CFM
Historian Kathryn Helgesen Fuller’s article examines film and video as effective teaching tools. She argues against “video babysitting” and provides examples of film resources and viewing strategies.
Halsall, Paul, ed. “Modern History in the Movies.” Modern History Source Book. Available on: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbookmovies.html
This Modern History Source Book site provides a list of films organized by topic for U.S. and world history.
Marcus, Alan S. ed. Celluloid Blackboard: Teaching History with Film. Information Age Publishing, 2006.
This book advocates the use of feature films to increase students’ historical understanding. Taking a methodical approach, the author details strategies in guiding film analysis, outlines scholarship supporting these practices, and finally, provides results of using these strategies in the classroom.
O’Conner, John E. “Reading, Writing, and Critical Viewing: Coordinating Skill Development in History Learning.” The History Teacher. Available at: http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ht/34.2/oconnor.html
This article by Historian John E. O’Connor provides examples of films and viewing strategies that he has used as a college professor. Of particular note is the pre-viewing information and outlines he provides for each film.
O’Reilly, Kevin. “Analyzing Historical Films.” In Colonies to Constitution. Critical Thinking in United States History Series. Pacific Grove, CA: Critical Thinking Books & Software, 1990.
This worksheet on “Analyzing Historical Films” uses the PIPER model of analysis. By using this model students will be guided to examine the film’s point of view, persuasive techniques, and their prior knowledge about the topic.
Percoco, James A. “Teaching History Through Film.” In A Passion for the Past: Creative Teaching of U.S. History. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1998.
This chapter provides recommendations for feature films with U.S. history classroom connections. Percoco presents a variety of strategies for student examination of feature films including using excerpts, combining work with film and primary source analysis, and organizing film festivals.
Rosenstone, Robert A. History on Film/Film on History. Boston: Pearson Longman, 2006.
The author, in recognizing the impact of Hollywood films on the public’s understanding of history, argues that the production of films as well as when they were produced add to the educational value of the film. Highlights Glory, Reds, October, and Schindler’s List.
Toplin, Robert Brent. Reel History: In Defense of Hollywood. Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 2002.
This book focuses on the cinematography and the production of Hollywood historic films, and argues that these aspects support the Hollywood films in studying history. It provides some criticism and analysis of feature films, but within the larger context of Hollywood film.
_____. History by Hollywood: The Use and Abuse of the American Past. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1996.
This book provides short essays that evaluate the academic and artistic value of the following films: Mississippi Burning, JFK, Sergeant York, Missing, Bonnie and Clyde, Patton, All the President’s Men, Norma Rae.
Vankin, Jonathan, and Whalen, John. Based on a True Story: Fact and Fantasy in 100 Favorite Movies. Chicago: A Cappella Books, 2005
Authors address the growing trend in Hollywood to produce movies that are “based on a true story.” The book contains 100 reviews, less academic and more “Siskle and Ebert.”
Weinstein, Paul B. “Movies as the Gateway to History: The History and Film Project.” The History Teacher. Available at: http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ht/35.1/weinstein.html
This article contains a short description of a film research assignment. It provides a filmography of films for use in U.S. and world history classes.