ANTH 2500 Ways of Seeing: Introduction to Visual Anthropology

This course will explore the meaning of visual expression from the perspective of anthropology. Students will critically think about how knowledge and beliefs influence human perceptions and behavior, examine forms of visual expression from pre-historic to modern times in a global context, and consider the stylistic, social scientific, commercial and political agendas that influence the production of visual documents. Students will review images produced by anthropologists, use photography and video to create image records of cultural practices in an ethnographic context, and debate the truth and ethics of productions. The course will be technologically intensive and offer skills for anyone considering ethnographic research, media analysis, material culture studies, or critical engagements with the arts and other forms of cultural display (such as museums).
Credits: 3.0