ANTH 3034 - Visual and Media Anthropology

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

This course is about visual representations of culture and cultural difference. It looks at a wide variety of visual media, including art, photography, film, video, and digital technologies, to explore the ways in which these shape both the perception, and the experience, of cultural difference. Throughout the course, an emphasis is placed on the inherent power of images: Their ability to shape our own cultural experiences, to cast cultural 'others' in particular ways, and to act as a mode of resisting other people's stereotypes. In pursuit of these ideas, a particular focus is placed on so-called ethnographic 'contact zones', those domains in which different cultural groups most frequently come into contact with each other. It is in these zones - which include such diverse settings as colonial frontiers, international film festivals and tourist encounters - that groups most frequently engage in constructing visual images of both themselves, and cultural others.

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Course Details

Course Code	ANTH 3034
Course	Visual and Media Anthropology
Coordinating Unit	Anthropology and Development Studies
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	At least 6 units of Level II undergraduate study
Incompatible	ANTH 2056
Assessment	Tutorial participation 15%, 1500 word Essay 35%, Visual 'scrapbook' project 50%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Georgina Drew

Napier Building
Room 126
Ph. 8313 5095

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1	A secure and accurate understanding of key concepts and theoretical approaches in visual Anthropology, including how colonisation and decolonisation have influenced the production of visual content.
2	An understanding of the wider inter-disciplinary context of research into human societies and behaviour.
3	Knowledge of the impact of colonisation on First Nations, Aboriginal, and Indigenous populations–including the ability to identify how settler histories have impacted their visual representations.
4	Capacity to understand and recognise central or key anthropological questions and ethical problems.
5	Ability to apply anthropological knowledge and research methods to a variety of real-world contexts.
6	Capacity to produce visual narratives that are supported by written narratives.
7	Knowledge of the appropriate and available technologies for conducting effective and ethical research.
8	Ability to draw on digital technologies in ways that enhance meaningful research outcomes.
9	A recognition of social and cultural issues, and their ethnical implications, in a global context in terms of the production and generation of Anthropological research and knowledge.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1,3,4,6,9
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	4,5,6,7,8
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	5,6
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	5,6,7,8
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	2,3,5,7,9
Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.	2,3,4
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	7,8
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	4,9

Learning Resources

Required Resources

The required readings for this course will be available electronically (via MyUni's 'Course Readings' Tab, and the university's online library).

Recommended Resources

For those who wish to read beyond the required readings for each week, or for use in developing and researching assessments, recommended readings are suggested for each week. These will also be available electronically in the weekly modules section of the course's MyUni portal.

Online Learning

Unless otherwise noted, all the lectures will be pre-recorded each week and recordings and powerpoint slides will be made available online via MyUni. MyUni also be used to share announcements, assessment information (e.g. assignment instructions, marking rubrics) and
additional resources (e.g. essay writing tips, discussion board posts).
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Lectures supported by 2-hour tutorials/seminars that develop and extend in-depth discussions of the material covered, including the content of the readings and the assigned videos.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

1 x 1-hour lectures per week (or equivalent) = 12 hours per semester
1 x 2-hour tutorial/seminar per week (or equivalent) = 24 hours per semester

6 hours reading per week
72 hours per semester

2 hours research per week
24 hours per semester

2 hours assignment preparation per week
24 hours per semester

TOTAL WORKLOAD = 156 HOURS PER SEMESTER

Learning Activities Summary

Week 1: Introduction to Visual and Media Anthropology

Week 2: Capturing Culture on Film

Week 3: Applied Visual Anthropology

Week 4: Colonial Photography and Ethnography

Week 5: Shifting the Lens: Aboriginal and Indigenous Film and Photo

Week 6: Experimenting with Method and Form in Decolonial Visual Anthropology

Week 7: Collaborative Filmmaking Part I

Week 8: Collaborative Filmmaking Part II

Week 9: (Re)thinking Cultural Representations through Multimedia Ethnography

Week 10: Material and Visual Culture in Social Media: Memes, Selfies, and Photos

Week 11: Using Visual Anthropology to Impact Politics and Change

Week 12: Using Visual Anthropology to Celebrate Cultural Diversity + Course Summary)

Specific Course Requirements

None.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

There are four components of assessment for this course: participation, a personalised photo essay, a mid-term visual anthropology essay; and a final exegesis. The weightings of each component are set out below:

1. Self-Assessed Participation (Template Provided) — 10%
2. Personalised Photo Essay — 15%
2. Mid-term Visual Anthropology Essay (with sample topics to be provided in the course guide) — 35%
3. Photographic Essay (OR a 5-7 minute film) + Written Exegesis — 40%

Assessment Related Requirements

Examinations will not form part of the assesment for this course.
There are no hurdle requirements for this course (no assessments that must be completed with a minimum grade in order to pass)
Self and peer assessment will not be used in this course.
Extensive information about the individual requirements for all assessment tasks will be provided on MyUni.
Late penalties are calculated at minus 2 points per day (including weekends)—and all assigments are out of 100 points.

Assessment Detail

The assessment for this course focuses on three main activities.

1) Students attend online or face-to-face seminars and then self-assess their engagement at the end of the semester based on a template that is provided by the instructor. Provisions for extra credit points are included in this assessment criteria.

2) Students write a mid-term essay that is 'summative' and based on insights form the course readings and course content.

3) Students compose a final photo essay that documents a subcultural group or event while drawing upon course resources to explain the significance of the group or event. Photo essays are encouraged but students with pre-existing video production competencies are allowed to submit a short video (which needs to be supplemented by a written exegesis).

Detailed information about each assessment task will be provided on MyUni.

Submission

All assignments must be submitted on-line via Myuni (in the Assignment page of the course's MyUni portal).

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator