This course introduces students to ways of working with digital video as a research tool, particularly in the disciplinary area of Visual Anthropology. It promotes an open-ended, content-led approach to documentary film, where filming forms part of the research process rather than taking place at the end of a research period, as in standard documentary practice. It suggests an alternative to the use of images as illustrations for verbal statements by exploring the use of observational/ethnographic camera and editing techniques to facilitate another way of knowing.

Students will use digital video to explore a research topic under the guidance and supervision of staff. They will produce edited video compilations to communicate understandings of that topic that have emerged through the filming and editing process. A strong emphasis of the course will be on the presentation of work-in-progress where students will learn to reflect critically upon the images they have created and edited and to appreciate the developmental nature of the learning process.

Participants will gain confidence to shoot and edit video footage as an integral part of their research practice, primarily in the area of visual anthropology.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

1. Work with digital video as a data gathering tool.
2. Work with digital video as a data analysis tool.
3. Implement ethical practices in the digital realm.
4. Constructively assess the effectiveness your own and others' work.

Weekly journal (2000 words) 10% [LO 1, 2 3, 4] Participation 10% [LO 1, 2 3, 4] 

2 x detailed work-in-progress presentations (30%) [LO 1, 2 3, 4] 

2x 3,000 word essays (30%) [LO 1, 2, 3, 4] 

Final video compilation (20%) [LO 1, 2, 3, 4]

Each week consists of a three-hour face-to-face teaching/tutorial/supervision period. These will be expanded to 5 hour sessions (according to student numbers) to accommodate student presentations in weeks 7 and 11.Students are expected to complete an average of 15 hours per week outisde these contact hours undertaking filming, editing, research, reading and writing.

None.

All courses offered within the Visual Culture Research sub-plan of the Liberal Arts program are recommended and particularly the ‘Thinking with a Video Camera’ intensive course (VSC8009).

None.

No prior knowledge is required, though students who have done the Thinking with a Video Camera intensive will have some understanding of camera operation and editing software that give them some advantage. Equipment will be provided from existing supplies in the Digital Humanities Hub.