Collaborative Research
E A Study on Utilizing News Films as Historical Resources: Exploiting the Methods for Compiling Database, and Creating a Framework for Analysis
| Type of Research | Scientific Research |
|---|---|
| Project Title | Research on Advanced Digitalization of Historical Materials |
| Research Title | E A Study on Utilizing News Films as Historical Resources: Exploiting the Methods for Compiling Database, and Creating a Framework for Analysis |
| Head of the Research Team | HARAYAMA Kosuke |
| Research Period | 2007–2009 |
| Research Team |
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| Purpose | The study focused on "Nippon News," news films produced mainly during the period immediately following World War II, to the mid-1950s; researchers taking part in the study sought to compile a database of these films, establish utilization methods as research materials, and explore ways of using them as exhibition materials. The original rights holders and/or film production companies of "Nippon News" had already died or otherwise disappeared, and the films are now distributed by the owners at a price. While there is a framework for commercial use by TV stations, etc., none has been established for research or educational use. This lack of a framework for research or educational use does not merely indicate an absence of rental systems. The more fundamental problem is the fact that very little discussion has taken place regarding the importance of film materials as research resources, methodologies for analyzing those film materials, and the resulting absence of academic frameworks for utilizing films for research purposes. This situation is also related to the lack of established policies among museums with regards to using films. At present, the use of films in an exhibition is inevitably limited to excising necessary portions from existing films, which actually prove to be far more effective materials. Under these circumstances, it is difficult to conduct a critique of a film itself or to understand it fully on the basis of its original meaning. In addition, there the added problem of a lack of policy among museums on how they should collect and sort films as parts of their collections, and the resulting insufficiencies in dealing these matters. With these situations in mind, this study focuses on news films produced during the U.S. occupation period, positions them as historical research materials, and explores the appropriate databases required for their effective use, while also aiming to establish of methods for critiquing and analyzing these films within a historical–scientific context. At the same time, the group selected news films to be used in the Gallery 6 exhibition opening in 2010; clarified the contexts in which those films were created, in order to enhance the exhibition content; and, in the process, present certain guidelines for the use of film materials in museums. |
2008
Progress
The group had seven workshops, held variously at the NMJH, the Kawasaki City Museum, and Waseda University.
Result
The group came to realize that viewing the news-film materials required long periods of time that made it physically and mathematically impossible to complete this investigation within the given research period. In order to establish policies regarding database compilations and research use, the group continued its investigation; in the end, the group decided to adopt a text-mining method to compile a database. To reduce research costs, the work behind that database compilation was committed to the Wataru Kameyama Laboratory at the Graduate School of Global Information and Telecommunication Studies at Waseda University. The beta version of the database has already been completed; the group aims to fully complete the database in 2009.
2007
Progress
The group had six workshops, either at the NMJH or at the Kawasaki City Museum. Among the news films of the postwar period, the group examined those released in the earlier part of the period and decided how the group should proceed with research. The group also shared background data on the news films, while initiating analyses of the films to resolve various points of argument. While continuing to analyze the films, the group also conducted brain-storming on the issues to be examined in establishing historical-research methodologies.
The group also participated in the "Asian Seminar on Audiovisual Archives" and visited the Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK, or Japan Broadcasting Corporation) archives.
