Diverse Voices and Resources in Film Guide

The following guide created by George Mason University Libraries outlines the research challenges scholars confront while searching for marginalized voices within problematic information systems, illustrates strategies for how to find diverse voices both inside and outside of traditional library systems, and highlights resources that start researchers on their journey:

The following guide provides general information and research resources on anti-Black racism, anti-racist learning and practice, the Black Lives Matter movement, and related activist movements:

• Search for scholars of particular university programs, then research their work. For example, if you were looking for women scholars on women in film, you might look at the faculty page at San Diego State University's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film.
• Web search Authors. Research authors for articles you have already found on your topic to see if they are a part of the community they are discussing. If you are looking at an article, you will not be able to tell their background immediately. Do not assume identity based on names. The best thing to do is research the author and see what you can uncover from their biographical information.  
• Check out the bibliographies of articles and books you have already found. Do a web search of the scholars you find.
• Find scholars and authors within Professional Association Diversity Groups. Some professional organizations have committees, working groups, or pages dedicated to diversity or diverse music/groups. For example, the University Film and Video Association has a Diversity and Inclusion Caucus.

• Try typing a specific community, country, culture, identity, or social topic in the Library Search, along with a word related to "film" or "cinema. Once you get your results, filter by books, articles, or reference entries. Here are a few search examples:

Asian American Films

Chinese Lesbian Cinema

Gender and Sexuality in Puerto Rican film

Black masculinity in popular media

• Check out the bibliographies and footnotes of sources you have already found.
• Look up names of specific filmmakers or films, like "Bong Joon Ho" or "Moonlight."