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Applied Visual Anthropology
Convenor:
Sarah Pink
Loughborough University
s.pink@lboro.ac.uk
This workshop will explore uses of and perspectives on the application of visual anthropological approaches and methods outside academic contexts. There is a long history of visual anthropology’s involvement with non-academic projects in the creative media as well as social intervention and policy domains. For example in ethnographic television documentary making, indigenous media projects broaching issues of local community development, identity and self-representation, and as photographic inventories as part of wider social research projects. With the recent increase in use of digital technologies (video, stills photography and hypermedia) there is much wider access to and use of visual imagery and audio-visual media by anthropologists working both in and outside the academy. Simultaneously the use of visual anthropological methods of research and representation is now more prevalent: in consumer ethnography and design anthropology trained visual anthropologists are working with businesses using visual ethnography and anthropologically informed ideas to provide insights that offer commercial advantage; anthropologists working in social development overseas use visual research methods, and video production as part of their working practices; and ‘at home’ anthropologists use visual ethnographic methods in applied work in the public sector and policy research.
This workshop aims to draw together the experiences and views of EASA members who have used visual methods and media in anthropological work in any field that has some impact outside academic contexts. I welcome papers on ethnographic experiences or methodological or theoretical issues that relate to this area.
Face-To-Face: Connecting Distance and Proximity
The conference constitutes an important instrument for enhancing the European Research Area in anthropology. The structure of plenaries, round table, and workshops presents a model of interactive training with significant emphasis on closely connecting early stage researchers and experienced ones. It aims at combining the presentation of works in progress with current theoretical and methodological debates. In addition, "the coffeehouse", a special place for communication, will serve as meeting point for invited experienced researchers from various European backgrounds with early stage researchers on an informal level. The general theme of the conference addresses core social and cultural problems, which are at the heart of current international debates in anthropology and have particular expressions in social realities within the European Union. The major focus is contemporary culture as a space determined by regional diversities as well as tendencies towards transnational
homogeneity where borders are constantly challenged and redefined. Thematic topics are a) social and cultural diversity, b) interconnections and disconnections, c) compassion and conflict, and d) learning, knowledge and meditation. Methodological issues deal with ethnography from various, recent perspectives. The title of this conference articulates the various dimensions of human interaction, on one hand in close contact with each other, and on the other hand in contexts of new communication technologies. This project significantly promotes the capacities of early stage researchers for perceiving and analysing socio-cultural problems, enabling them to improve the quality of their future research. It will further develop their capacities to offer viable solutions to actual socio-cultural problems and give them an understanding of the demands of high quality work inside the European Research Area while at the same time maintaining an understanding of international relations and the world's complexity. It is in these manifold dimensions that the conference topic and the various forms of interaction between experienced and early stage
researchers will lead to a significant step forward. |
