Media Studies & Anthropology : a guide to library resources
Contents:
Starting Points
When you need to define your topic and/or get some background reading try consulting a dictionary or encyclopedia. Here are some dictionaries/encyclopedias relevant to media studies topics:
- Film studies - those in electronic format are linked here
- Television and Radio - those in electronic format are linked here
- Australian film studies
- Mass media
The guide to Anthropology dictionaries/encyclopedias will help if you need explanations of anthropological terminology or theory.
To find anthropological overviews/introductory texts on media topics try the following:
- Anthropology and mass communication (2003) [print]
[Overview of the themes, topics and methodologies in the emerging dialogue between anthropologists studying mass communication and media analysts turning to ethnography and cultural analysis]
- Anthropology of media: a reader (2002) [print] -
[A critical overview of how mass media represents and constructs both Western and non-Western culture. A book review is linked here]
- Anthropology and Mass Media (1993) [electronic]
[Published in vol. 22 of the Annual review of Anthropology, this is a review of the literature relevant to anthropology and media. Also available in print format]
Global media studies: ethnographic perspectives (2003) [print & electronic]
[Explores the theoretical and methodological threats that are defining global media studies as a discipline]
Media worlds: anthropology on new terrain (2002) [print & electronic]
[Contributions which showcase writings on the ethnography of media. A book review is linked here]
New media: a critical introduction (2002) [print]
[Comprehensive introduction to the culture, history, technologies and theories of new media. A book review is linked here]
- Visible evidence of cultural producers (2000) [electronic]
[Published in vol. 29 of the Annual review of Anthropology, this review discusses anthropological research that analyses the practices through which individuals and groups produce music, video, film, visual arts, and theatre. Also available in print format]
Visual culture: the reader (1999) [print]
[Provides a resource of over 30 key statements from a wide range of disciplines. A book review is linked here]
Finding Books Using The Library Catalogue
Books can be found by searching the library catalogue.
Keyword searching is probably the best way of identifying material, and your results will be maximised by using keyword searching techniques such as truncation and Boolean searching, and by incorporating subject headings into your search where appropriate. Here are some examples on how to construct searches:
- "digital media"
- "mass media" and racism
- "motion pictures" and "popular culture"
- television and (anthropolog? or ethnograph?)
- "women in motion pictures" and (representation? or role?)
Finding Journal Articles Using Databases & Bibliographies
Journal articles can be found through databases listed in the Databases for Anthropology guide - Film and Television Literature Index, Sociological Abstracts, Academic OneFile, Academic Search Premier and APA-FT (for Australian topics) are probably the best starting points for finding articles on anthropology and media.
There is also an annotated bibliography on media anthropology [web access] produced by the Media Anthropology Network.
In addition, there are printed bibliographies of books & journal articles in the library which are probably most useful for identifying earlier material on film studies, television &/or radio, mass media.
Web Resources
The following are some starting points for Web resources on cultural/critical aspects of media studies
Culture & Communication Reading Room
[Maintained by the Centre for Research in Culture and Communication at Murdoch University this site provides links to Australian media and culture resources]
k.i.s.s. of the panopticon
[Created by Dougie Bicket of the School of Communications, University of Washington, this site is designed to provide a quick and easy guide to "cultural/critical theory and its relationship with communications and new media, including the Internet"]
MCS : the Media & Communication Studies site
[British-based gateway to Web resources useful in the academic study of media & communication]
Project Censored
[The primary objective of Project Censored is to explore and publicize the extent of censorship in our society by locating stories about significant issues of which the public should be aware,but is not, for one reason or another]
www.New Media Studies
[A site produced by David Gauntlett, Lecturer at the Institute of Communication Studies, University of Leeds for exploring the study of new media. This is a companion site to www.theory.org.uk - see below]
www.theory.org.uk
[A Website about the relationship between the mass media and people's identities, gender and everyday life. Includes information, essays, reviews & web links. This is a companion site to www.New Media Studies - see above]
Last update: 17 June 2009 Helen Attar
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