ANTH4730 – Critical Readings in Visual Anthropology: Ethnography, Theory, and Experimentation
Course content
This course will introduce students to some of the most exciting theoretical discussions in contemporary anthropology, which have to do with the status of images (both moving and still // film/video and photography) as a source of knowledge, research tool, and mode of representation. Rather than being mere illustrations (such as photos in the majority of anthropological literature), or indices of things, people or events (such as in mainstream documentary film), images are here understood as producing themselves knowledge, theory and argument. Such a renewed theoretical focus on and with images is required not only to understand our increasingly mediatized global world, but also the image use in radically different societies, and indeed by anthropologists themselves. The course will be useful not only for analysis of and with the visual in our global world, but also for students wanting to think through ‘visually’ their upcoming fieldwork, and when (post-fieldwork) writing their MA thesis.
Learning outcome
General knowledge
- Understand the relevance of visual anthropology for anthropological theory
- Critically assess the status of moving images, stills, and other visual media products in a global world
Skills
- Analyse and evaluate ethnographic films and other products of visual anthropology
- Explore the potential of visual anthropology for the ethnography of media productions
- Explore the potential of insights from visual anthropology for your own MA projects
General competence
- Deepen the capacity visual thought and analysis and appreciate its relevance in anthropology and beyond
- Enhance the ability to talk about one’s written and visual work (including powerpoint) and presentation skills
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
This course is not available for single course students.
Students must be admitted to the Master`s programme in Social Anthropology, or to the Master specialisation in didactics for social science in the Teacher Education Programme (Lektorprogrammet).
Recommended previous knowledge
This course is designed for MA students in social anthropology. We recommend having studied social anthropology at university level before enrolling in this course.
Teaching
Lectures (including film screenings), discussions based on readings, and student presentations. In the presentations students will discuss the literature in relation to their projects, and can also present their own photos or film-clips (or, alternatively, other examples from film/video and photography), and discuss them in light of the literature.
In the event of illness or other valid reasons, you can apply for a valid absence or postponement of compulsory activity.?Apply for valid absence from or need for postponement of compulsory activity
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The examination consists of:
- a visual presentation to a satisfactory visual standard (Powerpoint, Prezi or similar with fully edited slides, film /video clip, photographic, or multimedia essay).
- a written essay of minimum 1200 words based on the visual presentation. The essay must be prefaced by a bullet point / abstract, and is to be circulated in class on the day of the presentation. Note that this examination will take part during the course, within the class sessions.
Both the visual presentation and the essay are mandatory, and must be approved the same semester in order to pass the course.
Language of examination
You must write your examination paper in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.