Are anthropological films boring?
Again, remember that anthropological films and videos are not made as entertainment. If you approach them with that expectation, then you will probably be bored. Ask yourself this: if someone were to make a film of my daily life, how exciting would that be? Watch for biases! Anthropologists and filmmakers (not necessary the same person) are products of their own cultures. They have the same biases that are apparent in fieldwork and in the ethnographies that we read in class. Few films have been made by cultural insiders (who, of course, have their own biases). At the same time, some films have deliberate or direct biases, and we need to watch for these. Some films are made in order to change our thinking on a subject, e.g. rainforest destruction or immigration. Though there may be good ethnographic content in the film, we need to know the limits of the ethnographic record and the filmmaker’s intended message. Look for these problems as you watch films and videos during the term. Wester
