Film covers a wide range of visual artifacts, from creative works of fiction, to interviews and documentaries, to the unobtrusive recording of events as they occur. The visual medium is invaluable because it enables those who study the past to witness some version of it. Understanding film, however, requires a healthy dose of skepticism, in order to ascertain the accuracy of what we see.

Yet film does not need to be “accurate” to be of value to the historian. Even highly fictionalized accounts can provide useful insight into the mentality of the time. What did the filmmaker--whether he or she was creating a work of art, a documentary, or a personal record--want the viewer to see? Why? Information about setting, time, and context affects our understanding of film.

Analysis of women’s roles both in front of and behind the camera greatly enhances our understanding of the past. As actors, what direction did they receive? How were they depicted and what control did they have over their portrayal? What transpired before they could gain the control that comes with being behind the camera? How did they use this medium to reveal what was important to them?

	Teacher Notes contain: Overview of the primary source type Skill focus Directions for conducting the lesson Teacher Notes for Film
	Student Activity Sheet contains: Small group or individual study activities for the primary source type Application and follow-up activities Student Activity Sheet for Film
	Document Study Sheets contain: Picture of the primary source Background material Specific discussion questions related to the primary source Select a Document Study Sheet from those listed on the right side of this page.

Yiddle mitn Fiddle, 1936

Interview about racial discrimination, 2001