MA Visual Anthropology / Course details

Overview

The fundamental principal of ‘ED’ is to develop a student's confidence when using technical equipment through hands-on practice using micro-tasks and more substantial practice exercises. ED is focused around limiting initial ambitions to establish quality at a foundational level.  It adopts a ‘keep it simple and practical’ approach and seeks to inspire students to develop skills in three key areas of image creation, sound acquisition and narrative editing. This course will encourage students to observe and participate in social action through the act of filmmaking to both explore and represent their research subject.

No prior expertise is assumed and participants will be instructed in the basic techniques of filming, sound-recording and editing for ethnographic research purposes. Over the duration of the course participants will work in teams of two to develop these practical skills through film project exercises and technical micro tasks. Students will have access to a limited supply of all necessary items of equipment that they will share. Groups will receive supervision from the course tutors at each stage and technical assistance and practical feedback outside of classes using Discord. There is no required reading except for the short sections on this website but students are encouraged to look further into some of the references listed. It is also recommended that participants learn through independent practice with the equipment and access internet available resources to extend their understanding of the technology.

The unique potential for ethnographic filmmaking as an approach to research areas concerning human emotion, strategy, experience (subjective and public), performance, expression and imagination will be emphasized in this course. This work will culminate in an extended feedback session for the final assessed film project. (Previously we have operated this course with a high degree of contact teaching but due to the current Covid pandemic it will now adopt a blended approach of synchronous Zoom discussions and asynchronous website-based learning and practical exercise feedback via Discord. Please refer to Course Schedule and Integration for detailed information about how this will operate - under Covid conditions only)

Learning outcomes
1. Basic practical understanding of manual functionality of filmmaking equipment. To include: Mirrorless system camera (Panasonic GH5), location mono sound recording equipment, Adobe Premiere CC editing software.
2. Practical and technical expertise in a filmmaking workflow. To include: research and preparation, audio-visual production or 'shooting', post-production or 'editing', exporting and presentation.
3. Knowledge of ethnographic fieldwork approaches to include ethical considerations and clearance permissions.
4. An understanding of how ethnographic filmmaking can offer a unique contribution to anthropological knowledge production.

• 2 sessions per week for fourteen weeks, including intensive workshops and independent learning (30 credits).
 

• Participants are divided into working groups of 2 or 3;

• Assessment is made from a group-produced 8-minute (max) film constructed around an event. Participants are also assessed on the basis of regular attendance and involvement in class activities and the feedback they have given to fellow students via Discord;
 

• Feedback will be given by tutors each week to the Practice Exercises in class (or via Discord). Students are encouraged to contribute to this feedback and also comment on the Micro Tasks of fellow students. Formal individual feedback, written or verbal, will not be given other than that received in the collective class sessions (or via Discord).

Information
THIS COURSE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE ENROLLED ON THE MA IN VISUAL ANTHROPOLOGY.