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Visual Anthropology

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:5.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:25:23
Study Course Information
Course Code:KSK_176LQF level:Level 6
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Communication SciencesTarget Audience:Communication Science; Information and Communication Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Alnis Stakle
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfatrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)6Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures12
Classes (count)4Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes8
Total Contact Hours20
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)5Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures10
Classes (count)3Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes6
Total Contact Hours16
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
None.
Objective:
Within the scope of this course students will be familiarised with visual anthropology as a sub-field of anthropology providing them with knowledge and understanding of its methods and tools in tangible and intangible culture documentation, media analysis, ethnographic research, as well as creation of meanings in visual forms of communication. Within the scope of the course the role of photography as a visual data carrier and different photographic methods used in anthropometric research will be viewed. Special attention will be devoted to three photographic methods: photo documentation, photo elicitation and photo essay. Students will have to work on individual photo projects using one of the methods and/or theories viewed during the course. In the diploma work of the course students will have to present their own photo project using the images found in the archives and own images, as well as adding textual/factological analysis.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introductory lecture.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Visual culture documents.Lectures2.00auditorium
3Art and performance anthropology.Lectures1.00auditorium
4Practical classes in visual anthropology, development, evaluation of creative projects.Classes1.00auditorium
5Presentations and discussion of personal research projects.Classes2.00auditorium
6Photography, intangible culture, theatre, poetry in visual anthropology.Lectures1.00auditorium
7Visual ethnography and its manifestations in photography and cinematography, individually viewing also the concept of autoethnography.Lectures1.00auditorium
8Presentations and discussion of personal research projects.Classes1.00auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introductory lecture.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Visual culture documents.Lectures1.00auditorium
3Art and performance anthropology.Lectures1.00auditorium
4Practical classes in visual anthropology, development, evaluation of creative projects.Classes1.00auditorium
5Presentations and discussion of personal research projects.Classes1.50auditorium
6Photography, intangible culture, theatre, poetry in visual anthropology.Lectures1.00auditorium
7Visual ethnography and its manifestations in photography and cinematography, individually viewing also the concept of autoethnography.Lectures1.00auditorium
8Presentations and discussion of personal research projects.Classes0.50auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Preparation for seminars, study and learning of literature and information materials, independent and group research and creative projects. 3 creative projects will have to be prepared during the course: 1) Photo project “Self-portrait without yourself” 2) Photo project “Appropriation” 3) Examination project “Archives and nowadays”.
Assessment Criteria:
Participation in lectures. Participation and activity in seminars. The final examination consists of two parts: 1) Essay which covers one of the topics studied during the course. Volume 3 pages (double spacing, Times New Roman, 12pt). In addition to the essay text students may also include creative work materials (video, photos). 2) 5 – 10 min. presentation on the selected essay topic in the audience. Students may be creative in presenting their presentation (performance, video, photo essay, etc.).
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:• to recognise and know visual anthropology tools, terms, methods in representation photography, cinematography, art, performance studies; to know how to use terms like representation, identity, subjectivity, marginalisation, other, reflection, appropriation, etc.; • to describe, interpret analyse forms, texts, processes and artefacts of visual anthropology (anthropological content versus aesthetic solution); • to find one’s way around and name the most important theorists of visual anthropology, as well as the subjects, processes and artefacts analysed in their works, ensuring skills to use these tools in further academic research.
Skills:• to critically and analytically think, judge, write on topics related to visual anthropology; • to use necessary methods in the analysis of artefacts of visual anthropology; • to collect, select, understand theoretical and visual material; • to write a critical analytical discussion essay on the topic of visual anthropology.
Competencies:• understanding of the role, tasks, ethical considerations and challenges of visual anthropology.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Collier, John. (1986) Visual Anthropology: Photography as a Research Method. University of New Mexico Press.
2Pinney, Christopher. (2011) Photography and Anthropology. Reaktion Books
3Pink, Sarah. (2006) The Future of Visual Anthropology: Engaging the Senses. London; New York: Routledge.
4Parker, A. & Kosofsky Sedgwick, E. (eds.) (1995). Performativity and Performance. New York: Routledge.
5Hockings, Paul.(ed) (2003). Principles of Visual Anthropology. Berlin: Ratzlow-Druck.
6Banks Marcus, Morphy Howard (eds.) (1999) Rethinking Visual Anthropology. Yale University.
7Banks Marcus, Ruby Jay. (2011) Made To Be Seen: Perspectives on the History of Visual Anthropology. University of Chicago Press
8Hall, S. (1997) Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. London; Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage in association with the Open University.
9MacDougall, D. (2006) The Corporeal Image: Film, Ethnography, and the Senses. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.
10Ruby, J. (2000) 'Towards an Anthropological Cinema: some conclusions and a possible future', ch. 8 in: Picturing Culture: Explorations of Film & Anthropology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
11Russell, Catherine. (1999) Experimental Ethnography.The Work of Film in the Age of Video. London: Duke University Press.
12Stoller, P. (1992) The Cinematic Griot: the Ethnography of Jean Rouch. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
13Svašek, Maruška. (2007) Anthropology, Art and Cultural Production. London, UK: Pluto Press. “Introduction” (pp. 3-14)
Additional Reading
1Banks, Marcus. (1992) Which Films are Ethnographic Films? In Film as Ethnography, ed. Peter Ian Crawford and David Turton, 116-29. Manchester; New York: Manchester University Press in association with the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology.
2Barthes, R. (1981) Camera Lucida. New York: Hill and Wang
3Bourdieu, P. (1990) Photography, a Middle-Brow Art. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press.
4Ginsburg, F. D., Abu-Lughod, L. and Larkin, B. (eds.) (2002) Media Worlds: Anthropology on New Terrain. Berkeley: University of California Press.
5Grimshaw, Anna. (2001) The Ethnographer's Eye: Ways of Seeing in Anthropology. Cambridge, UK ; New York: Cambridge University Press.
6Kristberga, Laine. Ķermenis kā politisks instruments un mākslas platforma Taņas Ostojičas darbos. (Studija Nr. 75, 48.–53. lpp.)
7Kristberga, Laine. Neērtums un sociālās paradigmas etnogrāfiskajos novērojumos. Saruna ar videomāksliniecēm Jūliku Rudēliusu un Pilvi Takalu. (Studija Nr. 79, 58.–63. lpp.)
8Kristberga, Laine (2011). The Aesthetics of Curiosity in Katrina Neiburga’s Works ‘Topology No 29’, ‘What’s in a Girl’s Handbag?’ and ‘The Teashroom’. Acta Academiae Artium Vilnensis, 203.–211.lpp.
9Kristberga, Laine (2013). Fragmentārais ķermenis laikmetīgajā mākslā. Letonica Nr.23, 100.- 107.lpp.
10Citi informācijas avoti: dokumentālās un mākslas filmas, YouTube un citi interneta resursi, fotogrāfijas un citi vizuālie materiāli.
Other Information Sources
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