Unit information: Visual Anthropology in 2011/12

Unit name	Visual Anthropology
Unit code	ARCH35024
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Butler
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit adds the important dimension of the 'visual' in anthropology research and theory. Visual Anthropology has two core focuses: the historical and contemporary use of visual media by anthropologists and others, and the creation and use of visual systems within societies themselves. The unit will engage with theories of the 'visual' in anthropology and will also present a number of examples of research carried out using visual media. In addition to lectures, the unit will involve the weekly screening of ethnographic films, which will be followed by analysis and debate in discussion groups. The Pg students, as part of their teaching and learning experience on the unit, will be responsible for introducing each week's film and will take the lead in the discussion groups, encouraging and supporting Ug participation. The unit will be supported via Blackboard.

Aims:

This course will introduce anthropological perspectives on the history and development of anthropological photography, ethnographic film and visual display in the museum. The unit also aims to introduce students to the topics, debates and analysis of: visual ways of knowing; issues of film and photographs as material culture; social uses and local practices of visual media use, including indigenous media; visual media and contemporary arts practices; image ethics; digital media practice; audience response and reception theory; anthropology on TV.

Intended Learning Outcomes

2nd Yr.

• To gain an overview of the ways in which the visual has been used in anthropology research.
• To gain an overview of how a society’s visual culture may be researched and analysed.
• To gain an appreciation of the ways through which developments in technology have shaped the field of visual production in anthropology and in indigenous communities.
• To understand ethical issues surrounding the use of visual representations.

3rd Yr.

• To understand the ways in which the visual has been used in anthropology research.
• To understand how a society’s visual culture may be researched and analysed.
• To understand the ways through which developments in technology have shaped the field of visual production in anthropology and in indigenous communities.
• To understand and discuss ethical issues surrounding the use of visual representations.

Teaching Information

10 two-hour lectures

Seminars

Weekly film screenings.

Assessment Information

2nd Yr.

• 2250-2500 word essay (85% of the total mark);

• 1000 word ethnographic film review (15% of the total mark).

3rd Yr.

• 3000-3500 word essay (85% of the total mark);

• 1000 word ethnographic film review (15% of the total mark).

NB. 2nd and 3rd year Ug students will be taught together on this unit, but the assessments will be different for each year. This difference will be reinforced via the different word length requirements for the assignments and (if necessary) different essay questions. In addition, separate Unit Handbooks will be produced for each year group. The assessment for this unit is summative.

Reading and References

Askew, K. & Wilk, R. Eds., (2002) The Anthropology of Media: A Reader. Blackwell: Oxford.

Banks, Marcus (2001) Visual Methods in Social Research . London: Sage Publications.

Banks, Marcus and Howard Morphy. Eds., (1997) Rethinking visual anthropology. London and New Haven: Yale University Press.

Crawford, Peter and David Turton. Eds., (1992) Film as ethnography. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Grimshaw, Anna (2001) The ethnographer’s eye: ways of seeing in modern anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Pink, Sarah (2006) Doing Visual Ethnography . London: Sage Publications.