Writing History in Film
Routledge – 2006 – 232 pages
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.
"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
William Guynn teaches film studies at Sonoma State University where he is a professor in the art department.