The Archive Effect: Found Footage and the Audiovisual Experience of History examines the problems of representation inherent in the appropriation of archival film and video footage for historical purposes. Rethinking the notion of the archival document in terms of its reception and the spectatorial experiences it generates, Baron explores the ‘archive effect’ as it is produced across the genres of documentary, mockumentary, experimental, and fiction films to create new histories, alternative histories, and misreadings of history.

Every reuse of a preexisting recording is, on some level, a misuse in that it was not intended or at least anticipated by the original maker, but not all misuses are necessarily unethical. In fact, there are many instances of productive misuse that seem justified. At the same time, there are other instances in which the misuse shades into abuse. Reuse, Misuse, Abuse: The Ethics of Audiovisual Appropriation in the Digital Era surveys a range of contemporary films and videos that appropriate preexisting footage and attempts to theorize their ethical implications.