Research methods of visual anthropology (shepherd and his music, the experience of making a film)

On Monday, May 21, at 15.00 in the White Hall of Russian Institute for the History of Arts the Department of Folklore is holding a regular seminar “Research methods for visual anthropology (shepherd and his music, the experience of making the film)” (cycle “Folklore, Anthropology, Ethnography”). The main speaker – Mikhail Gorshkov (Moscow).
We’ll address the issues of visual anthropology. What methods are used in the filming of ethnographic stuff, what the ways are preferable? These questions are constantly raised by those who shoot such documentaries. The conversation today, however, does not concern the finished cinematographic products, the results of the work. We are interested the process of shooting, which includes communication with a person, and the accompanying study of the people’s tradition. What issues arise in such a study? What aspects of culture are identified? Our seminar is designed if we do not give ready-made scientific recipes, then, in any case, sharpen the problems themselves, cause discussions. The issue of the creative personality is very important here; the ethical, ecological, psychological aspects of its study are inevitable. Contact with a person helps the camera. Filming becomes a part of life. The research process acquires the features of creativity, art.
There will be presented several documentaries about the shepherd from the village of Novo Kuvshinovsky district of the Tver region. Timothei Tikhonov tells and plays on the horn.