VISUAL PROJECTS FOR INTRODUCTORY

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

COURSESLeanna Wolfe, Ph.D.

Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges

March 18, 2010

San Francisco, CA

PhotographyProjects

Photo Observation Photo Inventory Photo Interview Photo Social Interaction

PresentationBasics

Power Point Show Posted on Slideshare.net Burned onto a CD/DVD

Mounted prints On a Poster Board In an Album

Select 10 Photographs and Label each with thick (detailed) descriptions. Present either as a:

Photo Observation Attend an event in which it would be

acceptable to photograph strangers

Come with the eyes and ears of an anthropologist Make note of everything the “natives” do

Go alone, be the guest of a key informant or attend with a co-researcher

Possible Photo Observation Venues:

Hockey Fans Football Fans Pool Hall   Sports Bar Beauty Parlor   Car Racing Surfing    Music Dance Concert 

Gay Culture Singles Bar Rave Party Homeless Shelter Dog Park Tattoo Parlor Health Spa Low Riding Swap Meet

Photo ObservationPresentation

Title name of project [be creative!], your name, name of course, instructor’s name, date of completion)

Select 10 photos that reveal cultural activities, how space is used, dress, ritual behaviors, cultural rules

Write detailed descriptions that help us to understand the needs this culture satisfies as well as how they are satisfied. Describe the ways the cultural practices are effective.

Photo Inventory Find a location in which the material objects present tell

us important cultural information about the people who use this space.

  You may seek the guidance of one or more of the users

of this space to explain what everything is and how items are used

Photograph an overview of the space as well as detail shots from angles that reveal how the space is engaged.

Possible Photo Inventory Spaces

Homes Bedrooms Clubs Kitchens

Studios Coffee Houses Bars Markets

Photo InventoryPresentation

Title (name of project [pick something creative!], your name, name of course, instructor’s name, date of completion)

Select 10 photos that reveal the unique qualities of this space, how it is used, decorated and arranged.  Think especially about the cultural rules and behaviors that dictate how the space is engaged.

Write detailed descriptions that help us to understand the

cultural needs this space satisfies.

 

Photo Interview Create a photo profile of someone who interests you

Consider picking someone who is culturally different from yourself.

  Think about groups that you have little or no interaction with

or knowledge about and that you are curious to learn more about.  

Try to choose someone who is different from you in multiple dimensions of diversity (i.e., race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, social class, religion, primary language, etc.).

Photo InterviewProcess

With your subject’s permission shoot a series of photographs that you and they think reveal who they are and how they live.  They may want to change costumes and show you who they are in different settings that they inhabit.  (You may choose to focus on one aspect of their cultural world…and just photograph that.)

Print out the best photos and return to have them reflect on what they say.  Have them write out their responses…

Prepare a presentation that incorporates their comments on who they are, what their cultural practices mean to them as well as your anthropological view of their world(s).

 

Photo InterviewPresentation

Title (name of project [pick something creative!], your name, name of course, instructor’s name, date of completion)

  Select 10 photos that best reveal the uniqueness of

the subject you chose.

  Use detailed descriptions plus your subject’s

commentaries to tell us what is culturally unique about your subject.

Photo SocialInteraction

Record people engaging in an activity.   Photograph people in relationship to each other The activity may reveal differences in status, role

and gender.

   Your series of photographs should reveal

stages in the interaction as in a sale, a conversation, a dance or a process.

Possible Venues for Social Interactions

Swap Meet Tennis Game Dance Party

Meal/Picnic Playground Dog Park Contest

Photo Social InteractionPresentation

Title (name of project [pick something creative!], your name, name of course, instructor’s name, date of completion)

  Select 10 photos that reveal stages in a social interaction with

particular consideration to how space is used and how cultural objects are engaged

Write detailed descriptions that help us to understand the cultural rules of engagement of your subjects and their cultural objects.