spring 2020
SVF-3903 From Fieldwork Experience to Ethnographic Film and Text - 60 ECTS

Type of course

The course is compulsory for students admitted to the Master's programme in Visual Anthropology. It may not be taken as a singular course.

Course overlap

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

SVF-3905 From fieldwork experiences to ethnographic film 30 stp

Course content

The course aims to give the students basic research skills for utilising film and text as different means in the production and mediation of ethnographic research. During the course the students will produce a film and a written thesis.                             

Returning from fieldwork, the students will start to prepare the writing of their exam paper and the editing of their exam film. In the analysis of their fieldwork material, the course aims at utilizing images and texts as different modalities for producing anthropological knowledge. The film footage will be utilized for ethnographic descriptions and analysis, where film and text mutually inform and inspire each other. During the autumn term, the students will work on systematizing their empirical material for film and text purposes, and present a first draft of their thesis by the end of term. In the spring term the students will edit their exam film and finalize their written dissertation. Exam film and paper must be ready for evaluation by the end of May.


Objectives of the course

Students who successfully complete this course should have achieved the following learning outcomes:

 Knowledge

  • can distinguish and reflect critically on own and other people¿s ways of knowing.
  • know how to identify suitable analytical approaches based on their empirical material
  • be able to discuss and evaluate theoretical and methodological approaches within qualitative social science and visual studies
  • know the rules of scientific reliability in the establishment of knowledge within the qualitative social sciences.
  • Have knowledge of the debates on advocacy and empowerment in the social science tradition.

 Skills

  • has cross-cultural understanding: Can establish anthropological knowledge on the basis of a clear understanding of the difference of own and other people¿s perspectivies.
  • be able to develop a consistent analytical argument based on fieldwork material; own and fellow students¿
  •  
  • be able to implement and analyze visual, oral, corporeal and other systems of meaning
  • be able to demonstrate basic research skills for the use of film and text as different means in the production and dissemination of ethnographic knowledge
  • be able to demonstrate an ability to try out, in an experimental way, different possible steps in the establishment of knowledge. 

General competence

  • be able to make a research based ethnographic film
  • be able to present a consistent analytical argument trough a written thesis
  • be able to, , build knowledge about own and fellow students empirical field through collaborative work and comparison
  • be able to demonstrate the relative relevance of different theoretical and methodological approaches to the empirical characteristics of research material
  • be able to identify and discuss how knowledge production and reflexivity can be used as tools for empowerment of research partners and local communities

Language of instruction and examination

All lectures, readings, assignments, seminar discussions and the final examination are conducted in English.

Teaching methods

Part of the teaching is organised in 'Film and text seminars' (approx. 40 hours), combined with lectures (approx. 35 hours).

The students present work-in-progress, both film and texts, in compulsory seminars. Students receive individual supervision throughout the film and text-making process. 


Assessment

Coursework requirements

Students shall complete and submit all the following coursework requirements to gain access to the final examination. 

Course attendance is compulsory, i.e. only valid absences will be approved. A minimum presence of 80 % is required.

Students shall have individual debrief discussions about their fieldwork.

During the autumn semester students shall submit:

  • a scene list
  • a field report
  •  three papers exploring and expanding the ideas for the  Master's thesis
  •  the final draft for the Master's thesis

During the spring semester students shall submit following:

  •  a written statement of the film idea
  • syllabus selected by student (1000 pages confirmed by supervisor).

The final examination is composed of three parts: Film (max. 30 minutes duration) Master's thesis (approx. 50 pages)

Oral examination (Approx. 60 minutes) The film and the thesis will count equally towards the final grade, the oral examination may confirm or adjust the evaluation.


  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 60
  • Course code: SVF-3903
  • Tidligere år og semester for dette emnet