Section outline

◄February 19: Introduction
►May 22: Ritualization (Beyond Meaning)

  • Taylor, Lucien. 1996. “Iconophobia.” Transition 69: 64–88.

    Questions:

    • What does Lucien Taylor think are the reasons for the iconophobia of anthropologists?
    • What is the central paradox of their criticism?
    • What is meant by “ethnographic present”?
    • How are we to deal with different media in anthropology?
    • Note some of the similarities between ritual and film mentioned by the author.

    Mitchell, W.J.T. 2005. “There Are No Visual Media.” Journal of Visual Culture 4.2: 257–266.

    Questions:

    • What is the argument that there are no visual media based on?
    • What does the author mean by “semiotic ratios”?
    • What does it mean for the topics discussed in class?

    Viewing:

    Rouch, Jean. Les maîtres fous. France, 1955, 29 min.

    Trinh, T. Min-ha. Reassemblage. United States, 1983, 40 min.

◄February 19: Introduction
►May 22: Ritualization (Beyond Meaning)