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Film Studies Research Guide: Genres, Styles, Categories, Series

A guide to conducting research in Film Studies at Yale University, including key resources and crucial search strategies.

Finding Books on Film Genres, Styles and Categories

The following are examples of Orbis subject headings for books about (and sometimes examples of) films of various genres and types.

  • Be aware that books about genres (etc) will receive these subject terms, but the movies themselves might not -- practices are irregular.
  • Notice that unlike other topics on cinema, many of these subject headings use the term films, not motion pictures.
  • "Genre" is sometimes also used to cover series, such as Star Wars, and films focused on particular characters, like James Bond.

A film genre isn't its theme or topic, but there may be overlap. SEE ALSO Themes, Subjects & Characters

Director, Yale Film Archive