The Ethnographic Essay Assignment The Assignment: Ethnographic Film or Article Analysis (15%

The Ethnographic Essay Assignment

The Assignment:

Ethnographic Film or Article Analysis (15% of final grade, 75 points)

· Choose one

· Analysis paper due March 24th in D2L/Assignments Folder

· Essay should be doubled-spaced, 12 ft, and no less than 2 pages

Option 1: Analyzing Anthropological Article

Choose one article from the list below

Use the outline on “How do I Analyze an Ethnographic Article?”

Include research methods, theoretical frameworks, data presentation, author’s interpretation, and formulate your own critique.

How do I Analyze an Ethnographic Article?

Analyzing an ethnographic article involves critically examining the research methods, theoretical frameworks, data presentation, and the author’s interpretations. Here’s a guide to help you analyze an ethnographic article:

Understand the Research Question and Objectives: Identify the main research question or objectives of the ethnographic study. This sets the foundation for understanding the author’s goals and focus.

Examine the Theoretical Framework: Determine the theoretical framework or perspective that the author employs. Explore how the chosen theory informs the research design and the analysis of the ethnographic data.

Evaluate the Research Design and Methods: Assess the research methods employed in the study, including participant observation, interviews, surveys, or other data collection techniques. Evaluate the appropriateness of these methods for the research question.

Consider the sample size, selection criteria, and the extent to which the researcher engaged with the community or context being studied.

Analyze Data Collection and Analysis: Examine how the ethnographic data is collected, recorded, and analyzed. Look for transparency in the data collection process and evaluate the rigor of the analysis. Consider whether the author provides rich descriptions, quotes, or examples to support their findings.

Consider Reflexivity and Positionality: Evaluate the author’s reflexivity, acknowledging the researcher’s positionality, biases, and their impact on the study. Assess how the researcher’s background might influence the interpretation of data.

Assess Ethical Considerations: Consider the ethical considerations involved in the research, including issues of informed consent, confidentiality, and the impact of the study on the researched community. Evaluate how the author navigates potential power imbalances and represents the perspectives of the participants.

Examine the Writing Style and Structure: Analyze the clarity and coherence of the writing. Consider how well the author conveys complex ethnographic information to the reader. Evaluate the article’s structure, including the introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, and conclusion.

Explore Key Findings: Identify the main findings of the study and how they contribute to the understanding of the researched community or phenomenon. Consider whether the findings are supported by sufficient evidence and whether they align with the research question.

Contextualize the Study: Consider the broader context in which the study is situated. Evaluate the research’s relevance and significance in relation to existing literature and debates in the field.

Reflect on Author’s Conclusions and Implications: Examine the author’s conclusions and any implications drawn from the study. Assess the robustness of these conclusions based on the data presented. Consider how this ethnographic research contributes to broader theoretical or practical implications.

Formulate Your Own Critique: Provide a critical assessment of the article, highlighting its strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Consider whether the study has addressed its objectives effectively.

By systematically examining these elements, you’ll be able to conduct a comprehensive analysis of an ethnographic article, gaining insights into the researcher’s approach, the richness of the data, and the significance of the study within the broader field of ethnography.

Ethnographic Articles List

Note: All articles are provided via pdf available on D2L.

“The Natives Are Gazing and Talking Back: Reviewing the Problematics of Positionality, Voice, and Accountability among “Native” Anthropologists” by Lanita Jacobs-Huey

“Cultural Materialism and Behavior Analysis: Common Problems and Radical Solutions” by Marvin Harris

“Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight” by Clifford Geertz:

“Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others” by Lila Abu-Lughod:

“There’s no such Beast: Cattle and Color by David Turton

“The Whitings’ Concepts of Culture and How They Have Fared in Contemporary Psychology and Anthropology” by Carolyn Pope Edwards and Marianne Bloch

“The Sadness of Sweetness: The Native Anthropology of Western Cosmology [and Comments and Reply]” by Marshall Sahlins, Thomas Bargatzky, Nurit Bird-David, John Clammer, Jacques Hamel, Keiji Maegawa, and Jukka Siikala

Option 2: Viewing Ethnographic Film Analysis

Choose one film from my list of documentaries to critique.

If you want to use a documentary not on the list, please talk to me first for approval.

How Do I Analyze an Ethnographic Film?

Analyzing an ethnographic film involves examining various elements, including cultural context, filmmaking techniques, and the portrayal of the researched community. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you analyze an ethnographic film:

Understand the Cultural Context: Familiarize yourself with the cultural background of the community being studied in the film. This includes their traditions, customs, social structures, and historical context. Consider your own cultural biases and be aware of how they might influence your interpretation of the film.

Identify the Research Question or Theme: Determine the main research question or theme that the ethnographic film aims to explore. This could be related to social practices, rituals, relationships, or any aspect of the community’s life.

Examine Filmmaking Techniques: Assess the film’s technical aspects, such as cinematography, sound, editing, and narration. Consider how these elements contribute to the overall portrayal of the community. Analyze the use of visuals, including framing, composition, and camera angles. Note any recurring motifs or symbols.

Consider Ethical Considerations: Evaluate the ethical aspects of the film, including the filmmaker’s relationship with the community, the level of consent obtained, and the impact of the film on the community. Reflect on whether the filmmaker’s presence influenced the behavior of the subjects and if the film accurately represents the community’s perspective.

Examine Representations of Identity and Power: Explore how the film represents the identities of individuals within the community. Pay attention to power dynamics, social hierarchies, and any stereotypes that may be perpetuated or challenged. Consider how the film portrays the relationship between the filmmaker and the subjects.

Analyze Cultural Interpretation: Look at how cultural practices and beliefs are presented in the film. Assess the accuracy and depth of the cultural representation. Consider how the film navigates cultural differences and challenges any preconceptions or stereotypes.

Evaluate the Narration and Voiceover: Examine the role of narration and voiceover in the film. Consider whose voice is heard, how it shapes the narrative, and whether it adds depth to the understanding of the community.

Reflect on Impact and Audience Reception: Consider how the film might be received by different audiences. Reflect on its potential impact on public perception and whether it contributes to cross-cultural understanding or perpetuates stereotypes.

Formulate Conclusions: Summarize your analysis, highlighting key findings and insights. Consider the film’s strengths, weaknesses, and its contribution to the field of ethnography.

Remember to approach your analysis with sensitivity, cultural awareness, and a critical perspective.

Possible questions for your film analysis:

Briefly explain what the film is about.

Does the film use the emic (native point of view) or etic narration (disembodied narrator who portrays people as exotics)? Is there some of both going on? Provide specific examples of this portrayal.

Is the film “voice” (recall that film is a form of communication) that of someone who is a distant observer or expert or is it that of someone who is an active participant in what is going on? Do the filmmakers appear in the documentary or not?

Do you get the sense that the film is concerned with generalizing about a group of people (focusing on general cultural patterns) or by portraying internal differences or heterogeneity within a group of people?

If the film does show internal variation, what type is it exactly? Is it along gender, age, class lines, or social position? How do they show this?

Do we get a sense for what both men’s and women’s lives may be like or is one gender portrayed more than the other? How about addressing supernumerary gender roles? Do we get a sense for difference within genders along age, class lines, economic spheres, public and private domains, political spheres, etc.?

Think about whether the film shows lots of wide shots featuring many people or close-up shots of faces and people doing things.

Does the film use personal names? Do we get a sense for individual personalities?

Can you tell how the film crew may have influenced the behavior of those being filmed? Do certain scenes feel staged?

How visual is the film? How verbal is the film? What is conveyed better by visuals? By words? Are the visual and the text complementary, contradictory, or unconnected?

Are there technical aspects of the film (i.e., light, angle, up-close shots) used to portray a particular feeling or a character/scene or to arouse a particular feeling in the viewer?

Are editing techniques (juxtaposition of images, music, etc.) used to make the viewer feel or perceive the content in a certain way?

What are some potential problems or benefits that ethnographic films can have in their use of the portrayal of cultures? If there are any problems, what are some proposed solutions?

Ethnographic Film List

Note: All films are provided with a link to the source. If you have difficulties, access the film through the PPSC Library or reach out to me and we’ll problem solve it.

Nanook of the North (1922):

https://youtu.be/nqJyIlyMn5A?si=zC1ZUK0BWJRiTdrN

Flaherty, this silent film is considered a classic in ethnographic cinema. It depicts the life of an Inuit family in the Canadian Arctic and is one of the earliest examples of documentary filmmaking.

Dead Birds (1964):

https://youtu.be/vbIbGJuJSQI?si=PSzDzV3L5w33xYNZ

Directed by Robert Gardner, this film provides an in-depth look at the Dani people of Papua New Guinea. It explores their rituals, social structure, and daily life.

Chronicle of a Summer (1961):

https://youtu.be/AHcKMoV8pX4?si=GlvksnpUrBXJl7Y0

Directed by Jean Rouch and Edgar Morin, this French documentary is known for its innovative approach to ethnography. It involves a group of Parisians discussing their lives and experiences during the summer of 1960. Note: This ethnographic film is in French. English subtitles are available.

The Nuer (1971):

https://archive.org/details/thenuer_201611

Presents the most important relationships and events in the lives of the Nuer, Nilotic people in Sudan and on the Ethiopian border. Demonstrates the vital significance of cattle and their central importance in all Nuer thought and behavior.

Touki Bouki (1973):

https://youtu.be/8gINedtdtzs?si=6ib_XCFQTsrz4t-7

Directed by Djibril Diop Mambéty, this Senegalese film blends fiction and documentary elements. It tells the story of a young couple dreaming of a better life in Paris.

The Act of Killing (2012):

https://youtu.be/AtCgMP34kgM?si=yTY2XrbcehcfhsK0

Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, this film focuses on Indonesian death squad leaders who participated in mass killings during the 1965-66 anti-communist purge. It combines elements of documentary and reenactment.

Leviathan (2012):

https://youtu.be/lGhIFAl5bLA?si=kCAArX-V0Jd4Tb9g

Directed by Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Véréna Paravel, this experimental documentary provides a visceral and immersive experience, capturing the harsh realities of commercial fishing off the coast of Massachusetts. Note: This film is not narrated and there is no dialogue.

Hooligan Sparrow (2016):

https://youtu.be/3kOdYomF-Ug?si=8rCyqwUKNlwe2AAQ

Directed by Nanfu Wang, this documentary follows Chinese activist Ye Haiyan (Hooligan Sparrow) as she protests against sexual exploitation and government corruption in China. The film provides a close look at activism and surveillance.

Meet the Akuntsu People of Brazil (2004, 56 minutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFXcrGAQ_IA

The Akuntsu are a small tribe indigenous to Rondonia, a stunning expanse of land located in the northwestern region of Brazil. This territory, once lush with rain forest, is now a shell of its former self thanks to widespread deforestation efforts, and the scattered tribes that populate the region have been uprooted or massacred in the process. The Akuntsu, a people which at one time numbered in the thousands, have now dwindled to just six remaining members.

Our Generation (2010, 73 minutes) – subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcq4oGL0wlI&t=29s

It looks at Australia’s ongoing policies of paternalism and assimilation, explains the significant issues underlying Indigenous disadvantage in this “lucky” country, and upholds the right of First Australians to dignity, culture, and empowerment in their own country.”

Through These Eyes (2004, 55 minutes) – subtitles

https://www.nfb.ca/film/through_these_eyes/

An American elementary school program from the 1970s, Man: A Course of Study (MACOS), looked to the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic to help students see their own society in a new way.

Spirit of the Game (2003, 47 minutes) – subtitles

https://www.nfb.ca/film/spirit_of_the_game/

“I feel the spirit of the people and a connection with mother earth in my heart when I run.” These are the thoughts of 16-year-old Veronica Charter, a gold medalist at the North American Indigenous Games.

the Dance of Words (2014, 44 minutes) – subtitles

https://www.nfb.ca/film/dance_of_words/

The Dance of Words features young artists who have embraced their deaf identity in adulthood after spending a difficult childhood in the grey zone between hearing culture and deaf culture. These emerging artists show how they are using the arts to build a deaf culture that makes them proud. They shine a spotlight on their community while promoting and advancing deaf culture with a keen sensitivity.

Song on the Water (2017, 59 minutes) – no subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcpHhITwRjc

At the early age of 18, Al, along with his community at Lower Elwha, carved the Elwha Klallam’s first giant cedar canoe in many years, and set out on a 1200-mile paddle to Bella Bella, British Columbia and back.

In years following, Al is Skipper of the Elwha Spirit, teaching the youth how to take care of themselves on the water and help them understand their tribal traditions and continue them.

Herdsmen of the Sun (1989, 49 minutes) – no subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlnO1QDqpaQ

Herdsmen of the Sun is a 1989 documentary film by Werner Herzog. The film explores the social rituals and cultural celebrations of the Saharan nomadic Wodaabe tribe. Focus is given to the Gerewol celebration, which features an elaborate male beauty contest to win wives.