Are media and film studies truly new subjects? Steve Connolly uncovers their deep disciplinary roots and evaluates how knowledge is constructed and taught in the classroom.

The nature of knowledge in the curriculum is well-defined for traditional subjects like History and Science, but for newer disciplines like Media and Film Studies, the boundaries are far less clear. Knowledge and Knowing in Media and Film Studies is the first book to explore this question in depth, tracing the epistemological foundations of these subjects and their place in the English school curriculum.

Steve Connolly argues that while both Media and Film Studies have distinct intellectual traditions, their inclusion of craft skills alongside theoretical and factual knowledge has shaped a different set of criteria for what counts as valuable knowledge. Consisting of historical sources and interviews with teachers, this work goes against the assumption that these are novel subjects and shows their deep parallels with more established fields. Essential reading for educators and researchers, the book provides a necessary framework for understanding how knowledge in these disciplines is taught and legitimized in schools today.