Citing a movie in the American Sociological Association (ASA) style requires precise formatting to ensure scholarly integrity. The general structure includes the director, year of release, title, medium, production company, and place of production, all meticulously organized for easy reference. This guide provides a comprehensive overview and answers common questions to help you correctly cite your cinematic sources.
The Core of ASA Movie Citations
The ASA style requires a specific structure for citing movies in your works. The basic format is as follows:
Director’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of movie. [Medium]. Production Company; Place of Production.
Let’s break down each component:
- Director’s Last Name, First Initial: Always start with the director, as they are considered the primary author of the film. List their last name, followed by a comma and their first initial. If the film has multiple directors, list all of them in the order they appear in the film’s credits, separated by commas and with an ampersand (&) before the final director.
- (Year): Indicate the year the film was originally released in theaters. This is crucial for distinguishing between different versions or re-releases.
- Title of movie: Present the full and complete title of the film, italicized. Include any subtitles.
- [Medium]: Specify the medium of the movie. The most common medium is “[Film]”, but you can use “[Television series episode]” or “[DVD]” if that applies. Be precise.
- Production Company; Place of Production: List the primary production company (the one most prominently displayed in the credits) followed by a semicolon, then the city where the production company is based. If multiple companies are involved and equally prominent, list them separated by commas. If the production company’s location is not readily available, omit it.
Example:
Spielberg, S. (1993). Jurassic Park. [Film]. Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures; Universal City, CA.
This format serves as a foundation for incorporating cinematic sources into your sociological research in a manner consistent with ASA guidelines. Understanding the nuances of this style is essential for maintaining credibility and avoiding plagiarism.
Expanding Your Understanding: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This section addresses common queries related to citing movies in ASA format, providing in-depth explanations and practical examples.
FAQ 1: How do I cite a movie if I only watched it on a streaming service?
While the core elements remain the same, you can add the streaming service information to the end. Include “Retrieved from [Streaming service name] URL.” If the URL is incredibly long, use a shortened URL. For example:
Spielberg, S. (1993). Jurassic Park. [Film]. Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures; Universal City, CA. Retrieved from Netflix: [Shortened URL].
FAQ 2: What if the director is also the writer? Do I need to cite them twice?
No, the ASA style primarily focuses on the director for movies. You only cite the director once, even if they hold multiple roles in the film’s production. Their contribution as director is considered primary for citation purposes.
FAQ 3: How do I cite a documentary film?
The same general rule applies. Use the director’s name, the year, the title of the documentary, and specify the medium as “[Film]”. Include the production company and location.
Moore, M. (2004). Fahrenheit 9/11. [Film]. Dog Eat Dog Films; Toronto, Canada.
FAQ 4: How do I handle foreign films with translated titles?
Cite the film using the title in the language you are writing in. If it is a well-known film with an established English title, use that. If not, translate the title yourself and put the original title in parentheses after the translated title.
Polanski, R. (2002). The Pianist. [Film]. R.P. Productions; Paris, France.
FAQ 5: What about animated movies? Who do I cite as the director?
Cite the film’s credited director(s). Animated films often have multiple directors, so list them all according to their order in the credits, separating names with commas and using “&” before the final director.
Docter, P., & Rivera, R. (2015). Inside Out. [Film]. Pixar Animation Studios; Emeryville, CA.
FAQ 6: If a movie has multiple production companies, which one do I cite?
Cite the most prominent production company – typically the one listed first or displayed most prominently in the film’s opening or closing credits. If several companies are equally prominent, list them separated by commas.
FAQ 7: How do I cite a film within a television series?
If you are citing a specific movie that was made for television and is part of a television series, treat it as a television episode. Cite the director, the year it aired, the title of the episode, the series title, the episode number (if available), and the network. The general format is:
Director’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of episode. Title of series. (Episode number, if available). Network.
FAQ 8: Do I need to include the running time of the movie?
No, the ASA style does not require including the running time in the citation. The key elements are the director, year, title, medium, production company, and location.
FAQ 9: How does ASA handle citations in the body of the text versus the reference list?
In the body of your paper, you’ll use an in-text citation which includes the director’s last name and the year of release. For example: (Spielberg, 1993). If you are directly quoting or referencing a specific scene or idea, you might include a timestamp (if available) or a general reference to the scene within the parenthetical citation. For instance, (Spielberg, 1993, opening scene). The full citation, as outlined previously, goes in the reference list at the end of your paper.
FAQ 10: What if I’m citing a movie review instead of the movie itself?
If you are citing a movie review, follow the standard ASA format for citing articles:
Reviewer’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of review. Publication Name, Volume(Issue), pages.
And include the title of the movie in the review within the body of the review title or in the discussion.
FAQ 11: What if the director is unknown or uncredited?
If the director is unknown, replace the director’s name with “Anonymous” and follow the rest of the citation format. This is a rare occurrence, but it’s important to know how to handle it.
Anonymous. (1936). Reefer Madness. [Film]. Highway Safety Films; Los Angeles, CA.
FAQ 12: Can I use a citation management tool like Zotero or Mendeley to format my ASA movie citations?
Yes, most citation management tools offer ASA citation styles. However, always double-check the generated citations against the official ASA style guide. Citation tools can sometimes make errors, so verifying accuracy is crucial for maintaining academic integrity.
Conclusion: Mastering the Cinematic Citation
Accurately citing movies in ASA style demonstrates meticulous scholarship and strengthens the credibility of your work. By adhering to the guidelines outlined in this article and consulting the official ASA style guide, you can confidently integrate cinematic sources into your sociological research. Remember to pay close attention to each element of the citation, from the director’s name to the production company’s location, ensuring that your references are clear, complete, and compliant with ASA standards.