{"product_id":"los-angeles-documentary-and-the-production-of-public-history","title":"Los Angeles Documentary and the Production of Public History","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Los Angeles Documentary and the Production of Public History, 1958-1977, the reviewer finds a focused, archival study ideal for readers interested in film history and urban social change. Joshua Glick traces how documentarians between the Kennedy era and the Bicentennial produced competing narratives of American memory, showing both mainstream Hollywood practitioners and radical independents drawing on archives and civic institutions. The book's strongest reason to buy is its close use of primary documents and film case studies to reveal how documentary practice shaped public history in a deeply divided city.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArchival research:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book uses a wide range of primary documents to support claims about film practice and public memory.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFilm case studies:\u003c\/strong\u003e Specific analysis of filmmakers such as David Wolper, Mel Stuart, and Kent Mackenzie clarifies different approaches to documentary work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComparative framing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glick contrasts mainstream Hollywood documentarians with independents and activists to highlight ideological differences in representation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUrban focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Concentrating on Los Angeles, the text situates films within the city's class stratification and racial segregation for deeper historical context.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstitutional perspective:\u003c\/strong\u003e The study traces how filmmakers engaged archives and civic institutions, showing practical routes for producing public history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is for scholars, graduate students, and serious readers of film and public history who want a grounded, document-driven account of how documentary filmmaking influenced civic memory in mid-20th-century Los Angeles. It will also interest archivists and historians of the Americas who study state and local cultural production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a general audience survey or a how-to guide for filmmaking should look elsewhere, as the text emphasizes analysis of films and archival materials rather than production technique or light popular storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed archival evidence supports the book's arguments about documentary practice and public history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear comparative chapters show the contrast between Hollywood documentarians and activist filmmakers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Los Angeles focus gives specificity to discussions of race, class, and civic institutions in film production.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe specialized, academic tone may be dense for casual readers or those looking for a broad popular history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLos Angeles Documentary and the Production of Public History, 1958-1977\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJoshua Glick\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeriod covered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1958-1977\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeographic focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLos Angeles, United States\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubjects\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDocumentary film, public history, archives, civic institutions\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFilmmakers discussed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDavid Wolper, Mel Stuart, Kent Mackenzie, Lynne Littman, Jesus Salvador Trevino\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlick's study is a persuasive, well-documented contribution for readers who want to understand how documentary filmmaking shaped public memory in a major American city during a pivotal era. Its archival depth and focused case studies make it good value for scholars and advanced students, though casual readers should expect a dense, analytical read rather than a breezy narrative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book focus only on Hollywood documentarians?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book examines both Hollywood figures and lesser-known independents and activists to compare competing documentary approaches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the work primarily archival or theoretical?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is primarily archival, relying on a wide range of primary documents while situating findings in historical and cultural analysis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill readers learn filmmaking technique from this book?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, the book analyzes films and institutions rather than offering practical production instruction.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Joshua Glick","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48760413913307,"sku":"0520293703","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/31FQaYTIJmL._SL1000_b5685127-a76a-4c45-8d8e-74b5ce5eae44.jpg?v=1778437538","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/los-angeles-documentary-and-the-production-of-public-history","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}