If you want to take an interest in the history of films and film makers further, why not try our suggestions for weblinks, books and courses offering more on the subjects?

Weblinks

• BFI National Library - in the words of Morning Edition film critic Mark Kermode, "An invaluable tool for anyone who wants to get a handle on the movies."
• BritMovie.co.uk - Dedicated to British Cinema and listing UK films with some information on film genres
• Cast and Crew - Information about the television programmes which brought together the original cast and crew from The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, If..., My Beautiful Laundrette and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Includes an article by Tony Aldgate on British New Wave cinema.
• Close up -The electronic journal of British Cinema. First and only issue of the online journal covering aspects of British cinema.
• ITN film archives also include the British Pathe Newsreel and other studios' footage.
• It's not just Michael Powell- British films of the 30s, 40s and 50s. David Absalom’s continually updated weblog, including ‘What’s on this week on television’.
• Moving History offers background on the twelve public service film archives around the UK.
• Screenonline - This British Film Institute website is devoted to the history of British film and television, and to Britain’s social history as revealed by film and television.

Books
Best of British: Cinema and Society from 1930 to the Present
Jeffrey Richards and Anthony Aldgate, I.B. Tauris (1999)

British National Cinema
Sarah Street, Routledge (1997)

Censored
Tom Dewe Matthews, Chatto & Windus (1994)

Courses
Has Nation on Film sparked your interest in film and history? If so, you can find out more through a variety of Open University courses. Over two million people have already chosen to study with The Open University – the wide range of courses and qualifications allows you to create a flexible programme of study to meet your own needs.

You can start with a single course in a subject of personal interest or in a topic that’s relevant to your job, or the future of your career. Or you may want to begin with a diploma or a degree in mind. Here’s a selection of courses that touch upon some of the themes, issues and principals raised in Nation on Film:

Introduction to the Humanities (A103) – An introductory course for the Arts subjects – looking at paintings and architecture, listening to music, reading poetry, drama and a novel, and discussing philosophy, religion and learning how to evaluate sources of evidence from history.

Start Writing Family History (A173) – This short online course helps you interpret and write about your family history. It includes sections on interpreting and evaluating photographs. If you're interested in this course, you can try an online Writing Family History sample.

An Introduction to the Social Sciences: Understanding Social Change (DD100) – An introductory course for the Social Sciences. This builds on what you already know to tackle big issues in the contemporary world, such as changes in family, work and identity, risk and the environment and the impact of globalisation.

Understanding Media (DA204)
The aim of this course is to equip you with a robust and practical undersanding of the main issues facing media businesses, governments and ourselves, as consumers of the media, and as citizens living in societies saturated by media messages.

Film and Television History (AA310) – An advanced (third level) course in the study of film and television history. A number of feature films and television programmes from Britain and America are provided, and their social role and cultural influence investigated.

Total War and Social Change: Europe 1914-1955 (AA312) – Another advanced (third level) course that looks at the relationship between war and the transformation of society in the first half of the twentieth century. This includes sections on women and war, as well as film and propaganda.

Culture, Media and Identities (D318) – An advanced (third level) course that explores media and cultural studies. This includes a look at the way new technologies affect everyday life and popular culture, as well as analysing media messages and images.

Beginning to Study
If you have no experience of higher education, deciding to become an undergraduate student can be a big step. Our ‘Openings’ programme of short introductory courses has been specifically designed to give you the chance to test the water before committing yourself. Short courses, such as Start Writing Family History (described above), are for people who may already have study experience, but who don’t want to commit to a full undergraduate course straight away.

Content last updated: 07/01/2005

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