Time Schedule:
Samuel M. Yum
ANTH 209
Seattle Campus
Theories of culture and cultural variation, as seen and understood through visual media such as films, video, and photography.
Class description
This course is an exploration of how anthropologists and others have made use of visual media as a form of ethnographic documentation, but also as dynamic tools through which issues in the field are brought to the fore. We begin with a discussion of early practices and the first use of photography and cinematography for communicating cultural difference. We quickly move on to the visual treatment of a range of ethnographic cases and topics, culminating with attention to how new (and newly accessible) technologies enable virtually any anthropologist to produce a visual anthropology.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Lectures, weekly film and video screenings, plus other visual presentations.
Recommended preparation
Class attendance, assigned readings, participation in section discussion.
Class assignments and grading
Varied: short response papers (5 x 10%), two exams (2 x 10 %), a final team project that addresses visual media (20%), participation (10%).
Grading is based on a straight percentage/100-point scale.
