Films as sources and as means of communication for knowledge gained from historical research

Digital tools like the online portal and the Video Essays in Rural History series of the Archives of Rural History (ARH) and the European Rural History Film Association (ERHFA) have greatly facilitated the use of films as sources and the publication of audiovisual media as means of communication. This significantly enhances the source base of historical studies of the 20th century and therefore enables scholars to include new perspectives in their research. It furthermore enables researchers to reach new audiences by communicating the results of their studies in audiovisual formats. This presentation will first introduce the relevance of films in rural history and the role that the agricultural sector played in film history. It will then present the research infrastructure of the Archives of Rural History and the European Rural History Film Association. The presentation then concludes with reflections on the use of films as sources and means of communication in historical studies.