Writing History in Film

by William Guynn

Overview

Historical film has been an important genre since the earliest silent films. The French Revolution, the American Civil War, the conquest of the New World, World War II—all have been repeatedly represented in film. But how do we distinguish between fictionalized spectacle and authentic historical representation?

Writing History in Film sets out the narratological, semiological, rhetorical, and philosophical bases for understanding how film can function as a form of historical interpretation and representation. With case studies and an interdisciplinary approach, William Guynn examines the key issues facing film students and scholars, historians, and anyone interested in how we see our historical past.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415979245
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/27/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	236
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

William Guynn teaches film studies at Sonoma State University where he is a professor in the art department.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Facing the Skepticism of Historians Chapter 1 Historiography: Stories of a Particular Kind Chapter 2 Signifying History: What Are Factual Narratives? Chapter 3 The Historical Character Chapter 4 Refiguring History in Film Chapter 5 Film: A Place of Memory

Editorial Reviews

"the book clearly challenges us to deepen our received positions on the subject and to move well beyond the usual theorist suspects. In this respect, it is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about historical filmmaking." —Canadian Journal of Film Studies

From the Publisher