Review of AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE FILMS

• Published in: American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 1982-07, Vol.52 (3), p.564-565
• Main Author: Mason, Edward A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Family; Human; Marriage; Mental Health; Parenting; Sex Roles
• ISSN: 0002-9432; 1939-0025
• DOI: 10.1037/h0098991

Reviews the book, American Family Life Films by Judith Trojan (1981). Judy Trojan has made a valuable contribution to educators and programmers who are often frustrated because of two problems: learning which films are available on a subject and knowing where to obtain them. One of this book's features is a listing of 201 distributors-a master list of sources of films germane to family life as well as many other mental health related topics. In fact, Trojan has a broad definition of family life including the customary parenting, marriage, child development, sex roles, and the more unusual category of humor. The individual films are listed in two sections: 1573 in Shorts and Documentaries and 530 in Selected Dramatic Features. Identifying data and a brief statement of content are given for each. It is a troubling fact of life that publishing lags cause such gaps and give the impression that the book is "out of date." Because it contains so much information, however, this volume will be a permanent resource. There is another limitation that reviewer find troubling, even though Trojan did explain that she limited herself to American productions except for a few "specially selected" films. The reader of this book cannot help but share Trojan's enthusiasm for the truly rich and varied coverage which the family has been receiving. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)