Fall 2005

Utfyllende informasjon

Objectives
The aim of this course is to give students an insight into how ethnographic film contributes to the production of Ethnographic knowledge and serves as a valid ethnographic research tool. This unit can be taken as an option for students not following the master''s course in Visual Cultural Studies. The course is compulsory for students that want to take the course "New Trends in Ethnographic Film" in the spring term.
Contents
The Ethnographic Film seminar will focus on film''s capacity to mediate knowledge on culture. Ethnography as a descriptive way of understanding culture forms the point of departure for this course, which will give an introduction to how ethnographic filmmakers have worked to represent culture(s) over time. Films from early cinema till the most recent trends will be screened full length. The seminar will give an introduction to ethnography and to different genres within ethnographic filmmaking. The course will be organized in three parts. The two first will be intensive and based on lectures while the third part will consist of weekly film screenings. Part 1) The first 2 lectures are given as a part of course SVF-3102 THE CROSSING VIEW. Questions asked include: What is ethnography? What is the intention with an ethnographic description? What are the criteria for such a description? Part 2) Ethnography as "A Way of Seeing"Lectures and accompanying film screenings will give an overview of the history of ethnographic film and present main themes that have emerged within different genres of film. Part 3) Viewing and discussing ethnographic films. The films are selected from the list of obligatory films for master students at VCS. The films are discussed in relation to their relevance to anthropology and the social sciences in general and to criteria for ethnographic description in particular. Each student will present one or several films/filmmakers during the course.
Form of teaching
The teaching will consist of lectures, seminars and practical exercises.
Compulsory teaching
Presentasjon av film/regissør.
Assessment
The exam paper (max. 10 pages) will be an analysis and discussion of one of the films chosen and presented in the Film Seminar. The students will choose the topic for the paper and the approach to the problem.
Examination semester
Autumn
Type of course
Theoretical.
Level of course/Year of study
First or second year at master's level.
Language of instruction
English.
Recommended reading/syllabus
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