Universität Wien
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240025 VO Visual Anthropology (3.2.6) (2020S)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Moodle

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Details

Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 05.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 19.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Monday 23.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 02.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 23.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 07.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 14.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 28.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 04.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 18.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 25.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This lecture series offers an introduction to Visual Anthropology. Visual Anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that does not only study visual culture but also integrates practices of visual media production (especially filmmaking) within anthropological research and reporting. Despite its consolidation as a subdiscipline with its own institutions and discussion forums, Visual Anthropology has always remained a highly dynamic field, and its practitioners have formulated varied and sometimes opposing interpretations of what visual anthropology is or should be -- the recent renaming of the subdiscipline as ‘Multimodal Anthropology’ is a case in point. Students will learn about these changing ideas and practices by studying relevant literature, films, and multimedia projects that will be discussed in class, in order to arrive at an in-depth understanding of the field and eventually formulate interpretations of their own.

The following topics will be discussed:
• Visual Anthropology and Multimodal Anthropology
• Camera-based ethnography
• Montage and theory construction
• Shared anthropology, reflexivity, and (non)representation
• Distribution and reception

Learning goals:
At the end of the course, students
• have substantiated knowledge about key ideas and practices in the field of visual anthropology, and are familiar with recurrent debates in the field;
• understand how visual anthropology approaches have responded to changing technological and social-political conditions as well as shifting theoretical frameworks in the broader discipline of anthropology;
• feel challenged to start formulating their own view on the role of (audio)visual media practices in anthropological research, and to envision implementing such practices in the future.

Assessment and permitted materials

There will be a final exam for this class worth 100% of the final grade. This exam will include 25 multiple choice questions (overall 25 points) and three open-ended essay questions (remaining 75 points), based on the assigned study materials. Students are allowed to bring these materials to the exam in any form (digital or paper).

A maximum of 10 bonus points can be credited upon successful completion of a multimodal mid-term assignment that reflects on students’ participation in the Ethnocineca Film Festival and the Vienna Node of the Distribute 2020 Conference, which will take place between 7 and 13 May.

CORONA-19 Update:

The exam consists of a written part and an oral part. The 3 questions (1 written, 2 oral) will be available for students at 16.45. Students first submit the answer to the written part (17.30) and then the oral part (18.45).

Written part:

1 written question, 5 points
Answer in max 500 words
Exam time = 45 minutes (30 minutes writing, 15 minutes for down- and upload of the word doc)

Oral part to be submitted on video:

2 oral questions, 2x 5 points, A video fragment will be provided alongside the question.
Answer in 2x2 minutes
Exam time = 1 hour 15 minutes (45 minutes for creating the presentations, 30 minutes for the video uploads)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

A = 1 (Very Good): 87 - 100%
B = 2 (Good): 75 - 86,99%
C = 3 (Satisfactory): 63 - 74,99%
D = 4 (Enough): 50 - 62,99%
F = 5 (Not Enough): 00 - 49,99%

Examination topics

Readings, films, and multimedia projects will be studied weekly in advance of the class. Links will be made available on Moodle.

Reading list

The readings for this course are interlinked with audio-visual materials that should be studied jointly, in advance of each class. The short list below is included to give an indication of how audiovisual and textual resources constitute interlinked study materials; a complete list for all classes will be distributed during the first class.

Visual Anthropology and Multimodal Anthropology
- Readings:
Banks, M. and J. Ruby. 2005. Selected sections of the book Made To Be Seen: Perspectives on the History of Visual Anthropology. London: University of Chicago Press.
Collins, S. G., M. Durington, and H. Gill. 2017. Multimodality: An Invitation. American Anthropologist 119 (1): 142-153.
- Audiovisual:
Selected conference presentations of the Distribute 2020 conference.

Shared anthropology, reflexivity, and (non)representation
- Readings:
De Groof, M. 2013. Rouch’s Reflexive Turn: Indigenous Film as the Outcome of Reflexivity in Ethnographic Film. Visual Anthropology 26 (2): 109-131.
Dattatreyan, E. G.andMarrero-Guillamón, I. 2019. Introduction: Multimodal Anthropology and the Politics of Invention.American Anthropologist 121 (1): 220-228.
- Audiovisual:
Meyknecht, S., D. Nijland and J. Verhey. 1998. Rouch’s Gang. Documentary Educational Resources (DER). 70".

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:20