Whether it is the motif of the “thieving magpie” in Gioachino Rossini's opera of the same name La gaza ladra from 1817, the famous artwork Wheatfield with Ravens by Vincent van Gogh from 1890 or The Raven, one of the most famous poems about the raven “Nevermore” by Edgar Allen Poe from 1845: birds are omnipresent in art and literature. Their fascination is often only surpassed by the prejudices against ravens. This mostly unfounded fear of the feathered fellows is not least due to their attentive powers of observation. People feel they are being watched - an unpleasant feeling.
Corvids are the only group of animals that have observed and analyzed human behaviour over thousands of years. These birds are also able to pass on the knowledge they have acquired to subsequent generations. The documentary “Crows – Nature is watching us” (2023) explores the assumption that this bird species has accumulated cognitive knowledge about the cultural development of humans due to its outstanding mental capacities. Give this fascinating bird species a chance and don't forget: “The Birds” by Alfred Hitchock is only a feature film. But if you are interested in horror birds, you can also find it in the Media Library!
Holdings of the Media Library
Research on this topic and other content can be carried out in the more than 1,300 newspapers on microfilm and the ORF-archive. Inventories of DVDs, newspapers on microfilm and CDs are available in the Media Library. You can also check the current acquisitions of the Media Library via the new acquisitions list in unikat. Acquisition requests are gladly accepted.
Do you have questions about our holdings or need help with your research? Please contact the Media Library team, we will be happy to help you!
Use/borrowing:
All Media Library holdings can be researched via unikat.
Opening hours information desk: Monday - Friday, from 8:30 to 14:00
For use outside these times, please book in advance by 14:00:
+43 (0)316 380 - 1591 or ub.mediathek@uni-graz.at
DVDs can be ordered via unikat .
Orders until 14:00: pick-up location RESOWI information desk.
Orders after 14:00: collection on the following working day, RESOWI information desk.
Research in the ORF-archive is possible on site during the opening hours of the information desk.
The texts on microfilm can be read on microfilm scanners, scanned and saved on a USB stick (please bring your own).