Slide of Professor Graham's Powerpoint From March 2017, Which contains Steve Anderson's Diagram from Technologies of History

History on film usually falls under four categories on a story vs. fact scale: Historical Fiction, Historical Non-Fiction, Documentary History, and Meta-History. Historical Fiction and Meta-History tend to be lower on the fact scale compared to Historical Non-Fiction and Documentary History, and Meta History and Documentary History tend to have less story compared to either Historical Fiction or Historical Non-Fiction. Documentary History for example is ideally more concerned with presenting fact than on composing a narrative, while Historical Fiction is ideally more concerned with telling a story than on presenting history. Of course, all filmed history does need some overarching narrative, in much the same what that a historical essay needs a thesis or an argument, which might affect the factual quality of the work. For example, the History Channel's documentary on the 1790s' French Revolution had Maximilien Robespierre at the centre of their narrative despite having little influence until later on in the revolution. History on film can now be seen in a variety of formats from multi-season historical fiction TV series to documentary history miniseries to historical fact theatrical motion pictures to one or two minutes Meta History Youtube clips.

Film is another tool which historians use to communicate their work outside the traditional paper and essay format. This might include creating new footage by conducting oral history interviews with surviving witinesses of an event or era. Historians might also utlize film footage from the time of the events to structure their narrative. However, while film can be an important tool to historians it can also hinder the craft as much popular misconception about History is spread through history films. Films are currently one of the main ways in which an average Canadian engages with history.

Sources:

Shawn Grapham. HIST 2809 Goes to The Movies! March 17 2014.

Steve Anderson. Technologies of history: visual media and the eccentricity of the past. Hanover:Dartmouth College Press, 2011. pg. 14.