Cultural Policy Studies and the Capabilities Approach Have Much to Offer Film Heritage

Abstract:This article argues that film heritage scholarship might benefit from a stronger engagement with cultural policy studies. This scholarship offers both critical and instrumental tools to further improve the already rich contributions on the topic of the accessibility of film collections. Particularly relevant in this respect is the debate on cultural value and the so-called capabilities approach. Such an approach was developed by feminist philosopher Martha Nussbaum and economist Amartya Sen and is now debated in cultural policy and media studies in relation to concepts like cultural democracy, social justice, and well-being. The article also sketches the ways in which this approach might be applied to film heritage research.