Since the popularisation of the cine camera in the 1930s a lot of families tend to record similar events: Christmas, birthdays, children’s play and daily life activities. Private family movies of the 20th century are an important everyday historical source: e.g. how has the perception on life for families changed? How has the way of filming children changed? At the same time family movies are evidence of how families acquire media technology in every day’s life: e.g. how have families handled the cine/ video camera and who was filming the scenery?

The research focused on the analysis of home movies from the 1950s until today to find out about changes and continuities of family lives, in particular the ideals of family and their social practices around Christmas.

On the occasion of the International Home Movie Day 2012, the research results and selected film clips were displayed at a public event conducted by the Folklore Studies/ Cultural Anthropology Seminar, University of Muenster and the LWL-Media Center Westphalia. Numerous visitors took up the offer of a guided tour through the movie archive and several home movies were screened on 8mm- and Super 8-movie projectors.

A further analysis of the material will be provided upon request.