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Visual anthropology is a subfield of cultural anthropology that developed out of the theory and practice of ethnographic photography, film and since the mid-1990s, new media. It also encompasses the anthropological study of representation, including areas such as performance, museums, art, and the production and reception of mass media.
History
The origins of visual anthropology are located in the invention and application of photographic technologies to the study of human culture and diversity (Ruby 1996). Some of the earliest photography and filmmaking was trained on traditional anthropological informants. Anthropologists and non-anthropologists conducted much of this work in the spirit of salvage ethnography or attempts to record for posterity the ways-of-life of societies assumed doomed to extinction (see, for instance, the Native American photography of Edward Curtis *). The history of anthropological filmmaking is intertwined with that of non-fiction and documentary filmmaking. According to film historian Erik Barnouw (1993), some of the first motion pictures of the ethnographic other were made with Lumière equipment (Promenades des Éléphants à Phnom Penh, 1901). Robert Flaherty, probably best known for his films chronicling the lives of Arctic peoples (Nanook of the North, 1922), became a filmmaker in 1913 when his supervisor suggested that he take a camera and equipment with him on an expedition north. Flaherty focused on “traditional” Eskimo ways of life, omitting to that end any signs of modernity among his film subjects (even to the point of refusing to use a rifle to help kill a walrus his informants had harpooned as he filmed them, according to Barnouw; this scene made it into Nanook where it served as evidence of their "pristine" culture). This pattern would persist in many ethnographic films to follow (see as an example Robert Gardner's Dead Birds).
By the 1940s, anthropologists such as Hortense Powdermaker (Hollywood, the Dream Factory, 1950), Gregory Bateson and Margaret Mead (Trance and Dance in Bali, 1952) were bringing anthropological perspectives to bear on mass media and visual representation. The work of Bateson and Mead as well as that of anthropologically-minded filmmakers such as Tim Asch, Robert Gardner and John Marshall [http://www.newenglandfilm.com/news/archives/05june/marshall.htm led to the realization there existed a need to systematically study, understand and produce ethnographic films in a scholarly manner. Visual anthropology first found purchase in an academic setting in 1958 with the creation of the Film Study Center at Harvard's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography (Ruby 2001).
More on [ Visual anthropology ]
Documentary :: Filmmaking
Documentary :: Techniques and Styles
Native and Tribal :: Visual Arts
Media Culture :: Cultural Anthropology
...is considering making a pinhole camera, but he wonders if that's too "artsy" for visual anthropology.
AriesAshkuff (Aries Ashkuff) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:23:44 -0000
...is considering making a pinhole camera, but he wonders if that's too "artsy" for visual anthropology.
RT @easyjapanese: Colonialism, racism and visual anthropology in Japan: Photography ... http://bit.ly/8wlD1Z
regschwager (Reg Schwager) Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:32:02 -0000
RT @easyjapanese: Colonialism, racism and visual anthropology in Japan: Photography ... http://bit.ly/8wlD1Z
Colonialism, racism and visual anthropology in Japan: Photography ...: Wong tries to view the photographs in the light of their own '..
jhony_ediediedi (jhony ediediedi) Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:53:34 -0000
Colonialism, racism and visual anthropology in Japan: Photography ...: Wong tries to view the photographs in the light of their own '..
Avatar: @kerim on the film as an exercise in anthropology (its only merit is visual pyrotechnics in 3D)
khartanthro (Keith Hart) Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:52:47 -0000
Avatar: @kerim on the film as an exercise in anthropology (its only merit is visual pyrotechnics in 3D)
Avatar: @kerim on the film as an exercise in anthropology (its only merit is visual pyrotechnics in 3D)
johnkeithhart (Keith Hart) Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:52:38 -0000
Avatar: @kerim on the film as an exercise in anthropology (its only merit is visual pyrotechnics in 3D)
1800s Nez Perce Photography - Contains historical archive photography from Smithsonian Institution, Montana Historical Society, Nez Perce National Historic Park, Idaho Historical Society, and private collections.
Meta Description: [ Historical Archive Photography from Smithsonian Institution, Montana Historical Society, Nez Perce National Historic Park, Idaho Historical Society, and private collections ]
American Indian Studies - Dedicated to the presentation of artwork, photographs, video, and sound recordings, which reflect the history, culture of Native Americans in North America, and Central America.
Arctic Circle's Museum of Art, - Photography, and anthropology of the Arctic Circle. Contains virtual museum, natural resources, history, culture, social equity, environmental justice, and Arctic forum.
Asienhaus Essen: Exhibition of Photography - Photos of truck painting in Pakistan. An article by Martin Sökefeld that describes how trucks not only carry the loads but also the symbols, dreams, and idols of the population.
Australian Center for the Moving Image - ACMI offers a range of exhibitions, screenings, education, production, and events. Contains collections, exhibitions, and program information.
Meta Description: [ The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is a world-leading centre for experiencing the moving image in all its forms - film, television, internet, games, video and digital media. ]
CASC-Visual Anthropology Online - A resource for information about communicating anthropology to the public, and through science media.
Meta Description: [ The Center for Anthropology and Science Communications Web site is a resource for information about communicating anthropology to the public, and through science media. ]
Cine-Trance - Reviews the work of Anya Bernstein. Features descriptions of her ethnographic documentaries, articles, and field notes.
Culturefocus - Provides travel photos taken in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, India, Nepal, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and on safaris in Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia). Includes pictures, culture, and history.
Meta Description: [ Pictures, culture and history from around the world. Photos from Egypt, Peru, Cambodia, Nepal, Syria, Jordan, Guatemala, Mexico and safaris in Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Uganda). ]
Edward S. Curtis's North American Indian - Presented by the American Memory, Library of Congress. Contains digital reproductions of photogravures from portfolios of the North American Indian.
Meta Description: [ Digital reproductions of photogravures
from portfolios and volumes of the North American Indian by Edward S.
Curtis ]
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Ethnographic Portraits: The Crees of Northern Québec - Photographic essay about the natives of the Mistissini Reserve, focusing on changes caused by hydroelectric development.
Exposing Yourself - A paper by Jay Ruby that explores the relationships between reflexivity, anthropology, and film.
Fighters on the Farmfront Home - An Online Exhibit from the Oregon State University archiving Oregon's Emergency Farm Labor Service 1943-1947.
Frontier Photographer: Edward S. Curtis - Contains a gallery of Curtis' photography from the Smithsonian. Slide show format.
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HADDON - University of Oxford online catalogue of archival ethnographic films, and film footage.
I.U.A.E.S. The International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences - Offers history, executive board, organisation, newsletter, commissions, and race statement.
Nepal - Tibet : from Kathmandu to Lhassa and back - Contains images by Jean-Francois Berthet of Nepal, and Tibet. Includes photos of Kathmandu, landscapes, Potala, monks, monastaries, statues, paintings, rain, people, and windows.
Newcastlelight co. uk - Photography of North Staffordshire, UK from the research programs in photography, visual ethnography, and philosophy at Staffordshire University.
Meta Description: [ Staffordshire University - Everything you need to get started inyour career ]
One World Photography - Frontline Photojournalism Service covering photos specializing in war, human rights issues, politics, refugees, and development within Asia and Africa. Contains gallery, services available, links and contact information.
Meta Description: [ A leading international photojournalism organization capturing our world's defining moments. Photonews wire, photo stock house, live footage, video and assignment services. Covering issues of war, peace, conflicts, human rights, NGO achievements and politics. ]
Peter Langer - Associated Media Group - Provides stock photography of ethnic groups from 120 different countries. Contains image library, services, print material, and event organization.
Meta Description: [ Travel photographer Peter Langer has produced over 250,000 images in over 150 countries. Peter Langer - Associated Media Group provide professional photographic and audio-visual services globally. ]
Photoethnography.com - Sociocultural anthropologist Karen Nakamura offers a resource for photo-ethnographers. Contains gallery, techniques, equipment, courses, and links.
Richard Chalfen - Features teaching, publications, on-going research on home media and Japanese culture conducted by Temple University and Boston Children’s Hospital.
SIGHTS Visual Anthropology Forum - Collection of working papers from a workshop organized by the Centre for Cross-Cultural Research.
Society for Visual Antropology - Provides a section of the American Anthropological Association, promoting the study of visual representation, and media. Contains publications, subscription, member's forum, links, and contact.
Meta Description: [ The Society for Visual Anthropology (SVA), a section of the American Anthropological Association, promotes the study of visual representation and media. ]
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South African Museum - Encounters with Photography - Contains the photography of Henri-Alexandre Junod documenting the Thonga of Mozambique.
Structure and Meaning in Human Settlement - An article written by Edmund Carpenter of a High Arctic settlement on Zhokov Island, Russian Siberia.
The Latin American Video Archive - Authentic films and videotapes which depict their histories, and cultures from a Latin American perspective. Contains featured titles, about LAVA, reviews, and contact information.
The Peoples of The World Foundation - Provides education resource to the world's minority peoples by providing education, in words and pictures, about them.
Meta Description: [ The Peoples of The World Foundation provides education for and about the world's
indigenous, ethnic minority peoples. Your donation is rewarded by your choice of limited-edition, fine art photographs or
narrated, audio-visual slideshow documentaries. ]
The Teaching of Visual Anthropology - Jay Ruby and Richard Chalfen challenge the idea that film is art and science is an objective chronicler of reality in an article that discusses the difficulties experienced in the development of a truly anthropological cinema.
Triton Films - An independent film production, and distribution company offering socio-cultural documentaries, ethnographic films, and experimental fiction films. Resource for documentary, anthropology, education, and research.
Meta Description: [ Triton Films is an independent film production and film distribution company which has made numerous award-winning films and videos ranging from socio-cultural documentaries on the Pacific Islands of Micronesia to ethnographic films of Gypsies (Roma) to experimental fiction films ]
University of Adelaide Visual Anthropology Lybrary Guides - Offers film and photographic catalogs, introductory texts, and web resources in anthropology. Provides resource services, anthropology news, and library tutorials.
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Virtual Snow: Edmund Snow Carpenter - Features information on Edmund Snow Carpenter. Includes a full digital publication of Oh, What a Blow That Phantom Gave Me! Also contains biographical and bibliographical information.
VISAN: Studio of Visual Anthropology, Tomsk - Anthropology photos by Andrei Filtchenko in slideshow format.
Visual Anthropology Resources - Links to web sites of interest to Visual Anthropology.
Visual Research Methods - Marcus Banks describes methodology and issues of documentation in this article published in the journal Social Research Update in 1995.
Visualanthropology.net - Provides a visual on-line resource containing scientific journals, news, courses, workshops, and links.
Web Archive in Visual Anthropology - Features out-of-print and unpublished materials for teaching and research.
Working Images - Contains abstracts from the conference exploring anthropology, and visual anthropology. Includes introduction, themes, photography, art exhibitions, and ethnographic films.
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