American Storytellers

The following are potential resources that will assist you in your exploration the life and work of "storytellers" that have helped shape American culture.

Use the Research Process Checklist to help you stay focused throughout the research process.
 

 Print Sources

Our American Century Series: Time of Transition (973.924 TIM) & 100 Years of Hollywood (OS 791.43 100)
Organized by decades, Our American Century offers a look at the people, events and films that had an impact on American culture in the past century. 


 
Past Imperfect: History According to the Movies (791.43 PAS)
It has been said that most of what we know about history we learn from the movies, and so much of what we think we know is probably wrong. Featuring a keynote dialogue between noted director John Sayles and historian Eric Foner, this book will tantalize history and film buffs alike with its thought-provoking inquiry into the relationship between filmmaking and the historical record.

 

  20th Century Pop Culture (973.9 ESP)
A series organized by decade, 20th Century Pop Culture examines the trends, people and events that shaped popular American culture year by year.




 
The Movie Directors Story (OS 791.4309 FIN)
Since the earliest days of the cinema, the director has combined and controlled all the elements of film-making.  The Movie Directors Story explores the contributions of 140 directors ranging from studio contract directors to great innovators, writer-directors and the rebels.  Each entry is illustrated with pictures of the directors, scenes from their most characteristic movies.

The Encyclopedia of Novels into Film (REF 791.43 TIB)
list over 300 American and foreign books and their film adaptations, along with photographs and illustrations. In addition to its comprehensiveness, the strength of this reference lies in the articulate and knowledgeable analyses by contributors.


 Online Databases

It's always a good idea to begin your initial research with a trusted publication, i.e.: an article from an online database.  To learn more about the benefits of using articles accessed via a database, read Sirs vs. Google and Other Web Surfing.

Discovering Collection
Covers all core subject areas, providing reference, primary sources, creative works and video and audio clips and more.
Hint: scroll to bottom left and select Literature
LitFinder for Schools
LitFinder for Schools includes full-text poetry, short stories, essays, plays, and speeches, including 126,500 poems, 5,000 short stories, 2,800 essays, 1,800 speeches, and 1,000 plays. Also includes biographies, work summaries, photographs, and a glossary.
Contemporary Literary Criticism
Contemporary Literary Criticism--Select is an extensive collection of critical essays on contemporary authors. Each CLC--Select entry contains a biographical/critical introduction, listing of principal works and sources for further study.

Scribner's Writers Series
Includes 15-20 page signed essays on more than 2,000 authors and literary genres drawn from the acclaimed Scribner Print Series.
Student Resource Center Gold - Offers more than 1,100 full-text periodicals and newspapers, primary sources, creative works, and multimedia, including hours of video and audio clips and pod casts
The Twayne Authors Series - World, English, and US Authors   
Comprises 600 full-text titles from the Twayne Literary Masters series, 200 each from Twayne World, US, and English Authors.

 

 Internet Directories

Decades

 The 20th Century - Decade by Decade: www.wtps.org/wths/imc/Pathfinders/twentieth_century.htm

American Cultural History (arranged by decade): http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decades.html

Cinema History (films arranged by decade): http://www.tc.umn.edu/~ryahnke/film/cinema.htm

PBS American Experience - American Masters: www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/about/index.html

Web Generation: http://www.wgeneration.com/
 

Books & Authors

 American Cultural History (arranged by decade see Books & Literature): http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decades.html

From Bestseller to Blockbuster: www.forbes.com/2006/12/08/successful-film-adaptations-tech-media_cz_sc_books06_1208moviebook.html

PBS American Experience - American Masters - Literature: www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/database_literature.html

 

Film, Stage & Television

 100 Years, 100 Movies: 100 Greatest American Movies Ranked by Decade: http://www.filmsite.org/afi100decades.html

American Film Institutes 100 Years, 100 Movies - Cheers: Most Inspiring Movies of All Time: http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/cheers.aspx

American Film Institutes 100 Years, 100 Movies - Heroes & Villains: http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/cheers.aspx

At a Glance Film Reviews - Films by Decade: http://rinkworks.com/movies/

Film History by Decade: http://www.filmsite.org/filmh.html

PBS American Experience - American Masters - Film & Television: www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/database_filmtv.html

PBS American Experience - American Masters - Performing Arts: www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/database_performing_arts.html

Web Generation: http://www.wgeneration.com/
 


If you don't find what you're looking for in any of the sites above, try your 
own keyword search using the following tips...

Internet Search Tips

  1. Type the URL (web site address) of a search directory/engine in the address box: ex: www.yahoo.com, or www.google.com, etc.
     
  2. (Be sure to type the address exactly the way you see it, including any uppercase letters and punctuation).
     
  3. Type in keyword(s). (If your keyword has two parts such as: "American culture", be sure to put quotes around it so that the search engine only finds the Internet sites about American culture as opposed to all of the sites containing the word American  plus all of the sites containing the word culture.
     

  4. If you would like to search for something specific about American culture, try a combined keyword search by adding a comma followed by a space and your other search term. For instance; if I wanted to find out about the films and novels that influenced American culture, I would enter the following:
     

    "American culture", films, movies, influence
     

  5. Hit Enter on your keyboard, or click on Search, then scan the description of the "hits" (entries) and click on the links that sound best.
     
  6. Be sure to evaluate each Internet site for the following:
    • Authority: Can you tell if the author is credible (believable)?
    • Objectivity: Is the information objective (honest and free of bias)?
    • Currency: Is the information recent and up-to-date?
    • Design: Is the site designed in a clear and user friendly way?

    • Navigation: Is the site easy to navigate through, and are all links current and usable?
                                                       Use the Evaluation Information Found on the Internet as a guide.

     

  7. Remember: if you choose to use any information (text or graphics) found on an Internet source, YOU MUST CITE EVERY RESOURCE YOU USED to gather information on your Works Cited (Bibliography) page.  Use the Works Cited Guide to access MLA format.

 

Created by Liza Zandonella, Library Media Specialist.