Nonfictional Films as Historical Source: Materiality – Visuality – Performativity

Abstract

The article looks at the amateur and professional travel films of the New York millionaires Lawrence and Margaret Thaw and provides a new analytical approach on nonfictional films as sources for historical research. It argues that it is not only crucial to consider the visual dimension of (audio-)visual media but also to look closely at its materiality and performativity.

Keywords

• travel film
• source
• materiality
• performativity
• nanook of the north