I'm doing background research for a
Media studies Project.
My paper will analyze how black creators
express fear and bravery in horror films.
I'm planning to cite movie clips and
film reviews,
but I only have one scholarly article
that seems useful:
"Horror verite: Politics and history in
Jordan Peele's 'Get Out'."
While reading I came across the section
"Wake up and get out","
that discusses Black representation in
horror films-- something I want to learn
more about.
Here I notice an in-text citation that
tells me another scholar has
either discussed this idea before or in
greater detail.
There are lots of different styles of
in-text citations and in this article
it's indicated with an
endnote. I can follow this little numeral
3,
and it'll take me to a note at the end
of the text.
This endnote explains that Dr. Landsberg,
the author i'm reading,
is building on the research of another
author: Dr Robin
R Means Coleman who wrote the book
"Horror Noire:
Blacks in American horror films from the
1890s to present."
In the list of references I can see the
full citation of this book,
and I get the details I need to find a
copy I can read.
The first thing I'll try is searching
for the book by title in Search@UW.
Multiple sources with the title I
entered appear in my search results.
I see two have the words "book review" in
parentheses, so I know that's not what I
need.
The middle source is different under the
title I see what could be a publication"
"Choice Reviews Online" and there's an
icon that says
"article"-- I'm looking for a book so I'm
going to keep moving there are fewer
details about this next source,
but there's a link to multiple versions
that I can follow for more details.
Now I can see that this is a record for
a book --the source type I'm looking for.
I see the name of the author I'm looking
for, and this source shares the same date
and publisher
indicated in the original citation I
found. I can use the online access link
to view this book,
and trace the scholarly conversation.
When you find one helpful source
chances are you've found at least two.
Paying attention to citations helps me
keep track of the scholarly
conversations most relevant to my
research.
This is because the ideas that scholars
share are supported by the ideas and
theories of others.
If I had ignored that in-text citation, I
would have failed to acknowledge Dr.
Coleman's work,
and her place in the conversation about
this subject...I'd also miss out on a
valuable source.
