Film Studies Research Guide (Loudoun)

Film criticism studies the interpretation and evaluation of a movie within a historical, social, political, or theoretical context. Film critiques are typically written by a scholar or expert in film studies and published in scholarly  or academic journals. Criticism may examine a particular film, or may look at a group of films in the same genre, or a director's or actor's body of work.

Search for books on your topic in the library catalog. 

• Search by broader terms to include the cultural and/or historical context of the film. 
• eBooks and streaming videos are accessible through the catalog. If you see any in your search results, click the 'Full-text available at' link to open.
• Select 'Request Item' to have books from other NOVA libraries sent to Loudoun for pick up.
• If your book is at Loudoun be sure to write down the call number in order to locate the book on the shelf.

Sample keywords include:

• film criticism
• film genre and criticism (film noir and criticism)
• film title or director (Psycho or Alfred Hitchcock) and motion picture

The best way to locate articles is through the library databases.  Go to Databases by Subject and look under Communication Studies, Film, & Theatre (CST) to find a list of relevant databases. You can also perform a search in the databases below.

• Do not enter complete sentences in the search box. Search by keyword, film/book title and/or name of director/author. 
• Look for additional keywords or subjects offered.
• Look for toolbars that provide print, email, and citation options.