ETHNOGRAPHIC MODES OF INQUIRY*

概要

How have audiovisual technologies shaped our attempts to understand and represent human culture and society? Does development in multimedia technologies help or undermine our capacities to elicit “truth” or “reality”? How do we work with media technology when formulating an ethnographic inquiry, conducting research, and representing our findings? In this course, students will learn how to design and conduct anthropological research with and through films. This course will provide resources, support, and structure to enable students to conduct original research and produce a short ethnographic film by the end of the semester. It will offer training in ethnographic research design, some basic filmmaking techniques, and weekly feedback sessions to support students adopt an organized approach and mutually supportive network for their film project. It will also provide students with a history of visual anthropology and some key debates through lectures, a modest amount of reading assignments, and film screenings. We will consider how different media practices might shape, inform, and complement anthropological research practices. In particular, we will pay special attention to two lines of inquiry. First, we will attend to the political and sociocultural infrastructure that undergirds how we interact with media products. Second, granted that the development of media technology has enabled novel modes of representation, we will consider ethical and political questions they raise about our knowledge practices. By engaging with these questions, students will learn to navigate the question of authorship, audience, circulation, and archival practices as they engage with challenging subjects of representation—such as sensorial experiences, taboos, memories of violence and trauma, and politically charged cross-cultural dialogues. PREREQUISITES: This course is available primarily to FLA students who have chosen anthropology/sociology as their primary field in the Social Studies Major. You must have completed at least one 200-level Anthropology-Sociology course prior to taking this course. If you do not meet the prerequisite, you should withdraw from the course. If you do not, you may fail the course. You will be asked to fill out a form about your eligibility on the first day of class. While the course may be also available to non-FLA students or students not majoring in anthropology/sociology, you must consult the instructor before enrollment and obtain a consent. If you are looking for a course that teaches you how to operate cameras, use editing software, design sounds, or produce a polished video work, this is NOT the right course for you; This is essentially an anthropology methodology course. Although exceptions may be available, you are likely not allowed to enroll in the course if you have never taken any courses in anthropology or sociology. Since students will be working in groups to conduct research and produce a film, this course may require more rigor and time commitment than an average lecture course. EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY No prior experience with sound, video, or film production is necessary. However, please note that students may be asked to use their personal equipment or share it with their project group members. The equipment may include a video camera, DSLR/mirrorless camera, smartphone camera, audio recorder, or computer. More information will be provided during the first class. If you have any questions, please email the instructor.

目標

This course prepares students to: 1) Produce an ethnographic film based on their original research, which would demonstrate their ability to design and execute an anthropological research project; 2) Explore creative and responsible ways to engage with media technology as a mode of ethnographic inquiry; 3) Familiarize with the theoretical, methodological, and ethical concerns of ethnographic research (especially those involving audiovisual technology); 4) Articulate the politics and ethics of knowledge practice that differently mediated approaches raise; 5) Increase media literacy and critically engage with audiovisual media.

授業外の学習

Prepare for the upcoming class (60 min), which may include a modest amount of reading and watching a film. Write weekly and final reflections (30 min). Work on the film project in a group, which may include conducting research, filming, editing, and holding group discussions (210 min). The amount and type of the work may change based on each student's project.

所要時間: Minimum 300 minutes per class