Anthropology 312: Ethnographic Film Studies

This survey course on the history and theory of ethnographic film will approach cinematic imagination as an instrument of self-othering. How does ethnographic film expose and disrupt the sensory perceptions, common-sense conceptions, and dominant interpretations of social and cultural practice? What is its political potential as an aesthetic form and medium to construct new meanings, tell alternative (hi)stories, and create different worlds? The course will introduce students to seminal works in the genre from its beginnings at the turn of the 20th century to the present, including more recent, self-reflexive, and experimental productions. Requirements include weekly film screenings, film critiques, and a final exam. May be taken for credit toward the Film and Media Studies major or minor.