Course idea and schedule

Basically the course is about visual anthropology: what is it, what could it mean for art students, how  to do it. And since ethnographic study is a bit like swimming, no sense learning it in theory only, the main content of the course are the anthropological research projects that students will do - individually, or in small groups if they so want. To support this work there will be lectures and examples of visual anthropology research.

To make possible to share more of the discussions concerning the research I have chosen a topic for the research projects: anthropology of things or anthropology of the inanimate. Specifically I am interested in looking at "things left behind" - they could be abandoned things, trash, forgotten things or things stored or put in glass cases.

And because it was suggested by students last year, the course and the anthropological research has yet another defining characteristic: experimental. You are free to think experimental the anthropology, or the visual, or both.

Here is a schedule drafted for the course - it can be modified according to need but I have a number of visiting lecturers and those cannot be changed any more. What I want to make sure is that you, the students, get an active part in the course, not just listening to lectures and then presenting an assignment at the end, but trying your hand in combining theory and practice, concepts and doing, texts and things.

On the right-hand side of the blog I'll collect list of texts and visual sources.

4.11.
Introduction to the course.
Introduction to Visual Anthropology by cultural anthropologist and visual artist Liisa Häkkinen.

5.11.
Visual artist, curator and doctoral candidate Annu Wilenius will tell of her research between Mongolia and Europe.
Disscussion on Nomadism.

Assignment on anthropological texts: we form small groups. Groups choose a text, read it and discuss it and present their discussions next time.

11.11.
Discussions on the anthropology texts.

12.11.
Things left behind: visual examples.
Historian and archaeologist Marko Marila will lecture about Things

Assignment on texts about things: Groups choose a text, read it and discuss it and present their discussions next time. Groups can also start thinking about the kind of things they'd like to study.

18.11.
Discussions on and about things.

19.11
Visual artist and doctoral student Marika Orenius will lecture and discuss experimental visual and its relation to doing research.

Assignment: drafting research plans for the research projects.
Note: "visual" can be about the object of research (like studying photographs, signs, ornaments etc); or it can be the method of collecting data (photographs, videos - but also performances, drawings etc.); and it can also be the method of presentation of the research report.
"Experimental" can refer to any of these.

25.11.
Discussing the research plans: add the anthropology visual, experimental to your thing.

Research projects done and presentations prepared.

9.12.
Presentation of results. Marika Orenius will be present.
Discussion!