Using Non-Textual Sources

Reviews / Votes

Armstrong's work is an excellent point of entry into material for the analysis of non-textual sources. Written by an enthusiastic historian, it will be of great use to students, but can also serve as an inspiration to other researchers. * Lectures: An International Journal of Reviews in Social Sciences (Bloomsbury translation) * Students eager to find a fresh way to study history should read this book. Written in a clear, accessible style, it applies essential cultural theory to a dazzling array of examples from many continents and periods, from pottery and portraits to films and interviews. One of Catherine Armstrong's outstanding qualities as a historian is that far from talking down to her readers she encourages them to join her on an exciting and surprising voyage of historical discovery. As such, this is both a useful handbook and an extended essay, fizzing with interest and enthusiasm, that one can read with pleasure from start to finish. * Malcolm Gaskill, University of East Anglia, UK * Armstrong's Using Non-Texual Sources is an ambitious, concise, clearly structured and lucidly written introduction to the use of visual, aural, and material sources for the writing of history. Based upon a broad and deep knowledge of the relevant interdisciplinary literatures, there is no comparable textbook available for undergraduate historical methods courses. Its intended audience will find a persuasive argument for why they should look beyond textual sources as well as a detailed guide to best-practices in their analysis of film, paintings, cartoons, music, film, and artefacts. * Leora Auslander, University of Chicago, USA *