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Anthropology 249: Visual Anthropology
Smith College, Fall 2006
Nancy Marie Mithlo, Assistant Professor of Anthropology

Independent Research Project
Purpose
The independent research project is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of visual anthropology methods and theory by authoring a multimedia essay in PowerPoint format. El Guindi (p.46) defines multimedia as “interactively using multiple, nonlinear formats of media in a single format.” She goes on to say that this format, “can demonstrate links between written texts, spoken words, dialogues, background, sound, music, stills, cartoons, moving images, and more.” Students will conceptualize, design, construct and present a visual “multimedia” presentation.
Organization
The PowerPoint should run five to seven slides in length - no longer. Both a hard copy print and a copy of the project saved to CD should be turned into the instructor in class on the day the project is due (Nov. 21st). Students may refer to El Guindi’s “New Forms, Linked Mediums” (pp. 46-58) as an example of aims and methods, but should not feel constrained to adhere strictly to these guidelines. Other organizational approaches may be utilized as long as the following key concepts are addressed.

Students should demonstrate:

1) An understanding of visual ethnography concepts drawn from course texts or other related materials. Knowledge of the literature may be demonstrated either within the content of the presentation or as an end reference,

2) An effort to create relationality or “elements constituting the totality yield meaning from their grouping in relation to each other as a whole” (p.55), especially in reference to the visuals chosen, and

3) A contribution of the student’s own interpretation of the project’s theme.

Content

Students will choose one of the following four formats as a template:

On the class web site in Moodle, reference the John Collier Jr. exhibit: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/VAR/collier/collier.html in which historic photographs and text are juxtaposed in order to give a sense of an anthropologist’s general oeuvre and outlook. This project option should demonstrate an understanding of visual anthropology’s history.

On Moodle, reference the controversy over the Afghan Girl Revisited: http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/afghangirl/index.html
in which one historic photograph is subject to revisionist scrutiny and conceptual analysis. This project option engages varied forms of visual symbolic labor and addresses social change over time.

On Moodle, reference the online photo exhibit gallery titled _________________. This project option asks students to author an original photo essay combining text, images and/or sound for an independently selected topic. In order to garner credit for this research project type, students are required to select one theme from the visual anthropology literature to either address within the project or to reference in a critique format.

Students may elect to pursue an independent project with the instructor’s approval. A one-page proposal must be turned in by October 24th.

Please note that for each project option, visual anthropology scholarship must form an integral part of your analysis. Reference Librarian Sika Berger will lead class October 26th in a workshop on locating visual research data.
Deadlines
A one-paragraph proposal for your independent research project should be handed in by October 24th. Final projects are due Thursday November 21st.