Admission Requirements
This course is open to:
Students registered in the CADS bachelor’s specialisation Media Making Movements (MMM)
Premaster’s CADS admitted for this specific course during their application procedure
Exchange students admitted for this specific course during their application procedure
Please note: Students that are registered in the CADS bachelor's specialisation People Planet Power (PPP) may only take this course (as an elective or extracurricular course) once they have successfully completed the two Key Issues courses specific to their own specialisation.
N.B. 1: Completing this course is required to register for the third-year course Expanded Ethnography.
N.B. 2: Completing this course may be required to register for the third-year course Bachelor Thesis Project.
N.B. 3: This course is an admission requirement for the specialisation of Visual Ethnography within the master’s programme Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology.
Equipment and Expenses
Students who wish to experiment with a handheld video camera, may request – availability permitting, an HD video-camera from the University (Panasonic HC-V700, HC-V770, or HC-VX1E). Alternatively, the use of a students’ own equipment is also permitted.
Language of Instruction
Lectures are given in English.
Assignments are written in English.
Course Description
This course examines how audio-visual media shape and are shaped by human culture and society. In parallel, it examines major debates in anthropology regarding the use of audio-visual media as a means of social inquiry, reproduction, and change. To do so, this course provides a general theoretical introduction to the major debates of visual anthropology, as well as an introduction to basic principles of the use of photography, sound, and video in ethnographic research. From this base, students will read, make media, and engage in critical debate in order to develop aesthetic, epistemological, and political commitments.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Define and explain basic concepts, debates, and dilemmas of visual anthropology.
Identify and apply basic concepts, debates, and dilemmas of visual anthropology in order to try their hand at conducting exploratory visual ethnographic research.
Develop an understanding of the possibilities and limitations in form and content of various mediums (text, audio, image, video) for anthropological research and dissemination.
Schedule
Dates and room numbers can be found on the website.
Mode of Instruction
This is a 10 ECTS course, which means 280 hours of study (1 ECTS is equivalent to 28 study hours or SBU). These 280 study hours are composed of the following components:
Lectures: 9 x 3 hours = 27 x 1,5 = 40.5 sbu
Tutorials: 5 x 2 hours = 10 x 1 = 10 sbu
Literature and viewings: ca. 700 pages = 135.5 sbu
Written and audio-visual assignments: ca. 3,600 words = 48 sbu
Final project: 46 sbu
Assessment Method
Midterm exam: 40% of final mark
Final: 50% of final mark
Assignments: 10% of final mark
Only the final mark is registered in Usis. A final pass mark is 6,0 and higher; a final mark of 5,0 or lower is deemed inadequate. Final marks between 5,0 and 6,0 are never awarded. Only if the final mark is inadequate may the final exam be re-taken, during the re-sit.
Registration in My Studymap
Registration for the lectures in My Studymap is mandatory for all students. Registration closes 5 days before the start of the course. Carefully read all information about the procedures and deadlines for registering for courses and exams.
Students need not register for the examination via My Studymap, because this course does not include a single final examination.
Brightspace
Brightspace is the digital learning environment of Leiden University. Brightspace gives access to course announcements and electronic study material. Assignments will also be submitted in Brightspace. Announcements about and changes to courses are given via Brightspace. Students are advised to check Brightspace daily to keep informed about rooms, schedules, deadlines, and all details regarding assignments. Lecturers assume that all students read information posted on Brightspace.
- How to login
The homepage for Brightspace is: Brightspace
Please log in with your ULCN-account and personal password. On the left you will see an overview of My Courses.
For access to courses in Brightspace you need to be registered for those courses in My Studymap.
Course Literature
Articles from electronic journals and encyclopaedias are available through Leiden University’s digital library.