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 seeing and hearing can form the basis of knowing. From this starting point, it examines ways visual anthropologists have used visual methods to understand and act on the world with the help of research tools (cameras, field recorders, smartphones, gopros) and more-than-textual outputs (ethnographic films, photoessays, soundscapes etc.). Part I of the course provides a general theoretical introduction to major debates in visual anthropology by way of viewings and readings, with a focus on ethnographic film. Building on this introduction, parts II and III introduce basic principles of the use of photography, sound, and video in ethnographic research. From this base, groups will employ visual methods to develop a teaser and proposal for an ethnographic film.
Learning Paths
Students will build on knowledge from the courses Social Theory, Ethics in Contemporary Ethnographic Research, ARIP, and in particular Mediated Anthropology, turning attention to theoretical and conceptual grounding in the field of visual anthropology.
Students develop introductory knowledge of audio-visual methods with a group-based hands-on component.
This course prepares students for more advanced multimodal inquiry in year 3, with Expanded Ethnography featuring additional theoretical and practical engagement in preparation for the MA in Visual Ethnography.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Define and explain key concepts and debates of visual anthropology.
Identify and apply basic concepts and debates of visual anthropology to the crafting of an exploratory visual ethnographic research project.
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.