ANTH 3034 - Visual and Media Anthropology

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2021

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.

  • General Course Information
    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 118
    Ph. 0403 030 241
    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. A secure and accurate understanding of key concepts and theoretical approaches in Anthropology, and the contribution of major theorists in shaping the discipline.
    2. An understanding of the wider inter-disciplinary context of research into human societies and behaviour.
    3. Ability to provide an ethnographic description and analyse it, relating research-based observations to central theoretical tenets and concerns in Anthropology withinidentified territories.
    4. Capacity to understand and recognize central or key anthropological questions, problems and assumptions.
    5. Ability to apply anthropological knowledge and research methods to a variety of real world contexts.
    6. Capacity to contribute productively to groups and in the development of group-based outcomes.
    7. Knowledge of the appropriate and available technologies for conducting effective and ethical ethnographic research.
    8. Ability to draw on these technologies in ways that enhance the capacity to reach effective and meaningful research outcomes.
    9. Commitment to an anthropologically informed and academically rigorous approach to learning.
    10. 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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3,5,7,8,9
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    5,10
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    2,5,10
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The required readings for this course will be available electronically (via MyUni and the university's online library). Students will be notified when the readings can be accessed.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

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

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

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

    1. 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 — 50%
    Assessment Detail
    ASSESSMENT SUMMARY. There are three components of assessment for this course: a personalised photo essay, a mid-term visual anthropology essay; and a final exegesis. The weightings of each component are set out below:     

    1. 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 — 50%
    Submission

    No information currently available.

    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
  • Fraud Awareness

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