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Boys Will Be Boys
Brigt Dale
A film shot during student fieldwork in social and visual anthropology, "Boys Will Be Boys" tells the story of the inexperienced fieldworker, trying to master a foreign environment, and how his appearance and behaviour produce knowledge. About 'them' – and himself.The film follows the student (myself) behind and in front of the camera, while trying to master the situations unfolding in front of him. I also try to depict how the ever going process of analysis of oneself and the surroundings eventually influences both gaze, subject matter and attitudes in both filmmaker and those being filmed.
I introduce several characters in the film, all of whom were– in different ways - important aides for me in the field. There’s Sugarblacks, who taught me about the beach life, the young kids in the primary school, who, with much irony, invited me to join them in playing, and then there’s Sherma, with whom I had many insightful conversations about relationships, money, politics – and themes beyond.
The process of learning anything in any foreign situation, be it at home or in ‘a field’, is almost mythical within anthropology – before the first field work. Then one learns that many times, the only way to learn is through mistakes, loneliness, seclusion – and that someone finally takes pity on you and decides to take care of you. Many of these facts of field are rarely spoken of – this is an attempt to do just that.
Copyright: 2002 Visual Cultural Studies, University of Tromsø
For distribution, please contact:
Gøril Skotnes
Marit Gjertsen
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