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Film Studies Research Guide: Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

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

Film Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

One generally thinks of dictionaries as books defining language, and encyclopedias as books providing explanations, histories and biographies. But when a subject is more specialized, for all practical purposes they become indistinguishable. A book described as a dictionary may have more extensive biographies and plot summaries than a book described as an encyclopedia. They all provide quick sources of information and explanations.

Director, Yale Film Archive