Research Guides: Film & Media Research Guide: Start Here

Recommended Databases

Databases with scholarly articles on film studies:

MLA International Bibliography with Full Text
Scholarly sources on all aspects of modern literature, languages and linguistics, film, drama, and theatre.
Humanities Source
Journals and publications covering the arts and humanities, literary and creative thought.
Humanities Full Text
Covers disciplines in the humanities, including art, classical studies, dance, film, journalism, philosophy, religion, literature, and more. Includes academic and popular publications, feature articles, interviews, obituaries, works of fiction, drama, poetry, and reviews of plays, operas, ballets, dance, musicals, films, television and radio.
Art & Architecture Source
Covers visual arts, crafts, architecture, decorative and commercial arts. Academic and popular sources. Includes sources published in several languages.
JSTOR

Scholarly, academic journal articles, books, and book chapters
Project Muse
Scholarly, academic journal articles and books in many disciplines.

Columbia Film Language Glossary
Film studies terms illustrated with detailed explanations, visual annotations, and film clips that help to visualize and explore filmmaking techniques, methods, and concepts. From Columbia University
American Film Institute Catalog
Information on every American film from 1893 to 1993, with basic records for films from 1993 to present. Most records include plot summaries, production histories, and bibliographies of primary sources.
Media History Digital Library
Digital collection of historic books and magazines about film, broadcasting, and recorded sound. Includes early film industry publications and fan magazines, including Photoplay, Film Daily, and more.
Women Film Pioneers Project
Scholarly resource exploring women’s global involvement at all levels of film production during the silent film era. From Columbia University.

Film Scripts Online
Over 1,100 scripts and authorized, accurate versions of copyrighted screenplays.

Motion Picture Association Production Code Administration Files
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Production Code Administration Files collection documents forty years of self-regulation and censorship in the motion picture industry. This collection includes files for 500 films.

Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive (1880 - 2000)
US and UK trade magazines covering the film and entertainment industries, from the era of vaudeville and silent movies through to 2000.

Detailed Guide to this resource.

Academic Video Online (AVON)
Academic streaming films and videos, including documentaries, interviews, performances, news programs, and more. Includes films and programs from PBS and the BBC.
Kanopy Streaming Video

Streaming documentaries, feature films, & training videos.
Alexander Street Collection
African American history, women's history, social & cultural history, sociology, psychology & counseling, religion, music, drama & theatre, film, performing arts. Sources include texts, images, music & audio tracks, films & documentaries, theatre productions, and playlists. Searches ALL Alexander Street databases.

America: History & Life
Scholarly journals, magazines, and books covering history of the United States and Canada from pre-history to present. For coverage of the rest of the world, see Historical Abstracts.
Historical Abstracts

Scholarly journals, magazines, and books covering the history of the world from 1400 to the present (excluding the history of the United States and Canada, which are covered in America: History and Life).

History Research Guide
by Kelly Frost Last Updated Sep 4, 2025 55 views this year

Art & Architecture Source
Covers visual arts, crafts, architecture, decorative and commercial arts. Academic and popular sources. Includes sources published in several languages.
Art Full Text
Covers visual arts, decorative and commercial art, folk art, photography, film, and architecture. Peer Reviewed journals, magazines, and trade periodicals.
Artstor
High-quality images of artworks and cultural objects from institutions and museums that have been rights-cleared for education and research.

MLA International Bibliography with Full Text
Scholarly sources on all aspects of modern literature, languages and linguistics, film, drama, and theatre.
Humanities Source
Journals and publications covering the arts and humanities, literary and creative thought.

Use this guide to connect to books & other resources.

Theatre Arts Research Guide
by Kelly Frost Last Updated Aug 4, 2025 13 views this year