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Master
Vergelijk
Visual Anthropology (Cultural and Social Anthropology)

Study programme

The Master's Cultural and Social Anthropology is a one-year programme that allows you, within limits, to freely choose your research topic and site. The programme consists of three phases: in the first phase you deepen your knowledge on visual anthropological theory and methods while you design your research project, you then conduct your fieldwork, and finally you produce your thesis with both a visual and written component based on your research material. In all three phases you will be supervised individually by a member of the academic teaching staff.
  • First semester

    In the first semester you focus on anthropological theories and how film, with its material, poetic and aesthetic possibilities, can contribute to broader conversations in our discipline and beyond. The course Key Debates in Visual Anthropology (8 ECTS) introduces you to the recent debates in the discipline and helps you to anchor your research project in a contemporary and theoretically engaged field of knowledge and understanding. In one of the electives (4 ECTS) you become acquainted with the theoretical and methodological developments in a thematic field. Designing Visual Anthropology (12 ECTS) prepares you for your individual fieldwork research. You explore the works of visual anthropologists and filmmakers to develop your own approach. You will be supported in designing a research plan that is specific to a camera-based methodology. This phase includes a high-intensity one-week film-practice programme called the Pressure Cooker that is complemented by viewings of anthropological films. In this period you are also matched with your individual supervisor.

    In January, you start Fieldwork Visual Anthropology (15 ECTS). Fieldwork is the core component of this Master’s programme and is guided by your interests. Long-term immersion in a ‘field’ allows you to collect relevant materials and gain insights that allow you to answer your research questions. Fieldwork can take place ‘at home’ or abroad. Your thesis supervisor will accompany you throughout the process.

  • Second semester

    Fieldwork continues in February and March. You will spend ten weeks in a specific setting and/or community to produce an archive of images, sounds and texts. Upon returning from the ‘field’, you will start analysing the materials you have collected in a more systematic manner. It is important, as a visual anthropologist, to stay reflexive about your mode of doing anthropology and be in dialogue with other modalities. The course Thesis Seminar Visual Anthropology (6 ECTS) will help you in the editing phase. You watch films of fellow students and help each other to shape the thesis. In addition, you receive individual guidance from your supervisor. The thesis will consist of both a visual and written component.

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Key Debates in Anthropology
    8

    This anthropology course, "Key Debates in Anthropology," delves into ongoing theoretical discussions in social science, emphasising the role of ethnography. Students engage with diverse themes such as "Writing Culture" and "Multimodality" to anchor their research projects in contemporary anthropological discourse, fostering a theoretical understanding of the field.

  • Restricted-choice electives
    4
  • Thesis Seminar Visual Anthropology
    6

    The Visual Thesis Seminar guides students in transitioning from camera-based fieldwork to creating audio-visual work and a written report. The course, customised for individual projects, includes relevant readings and screenings. It features a step-by-step program covering organization of footage, anthropological film criteria, narrative structure, and montage principles, emphasizing the conceptual link between audio-visual work and the written report.

  • Designing Visual Anthropology
    12

    This course guides students in developing a solid research plan for their Master's research project, focusing on visual anthropology and relevant literature. The course covers methods, audio-visual techniques, and research skills through tutorials and workshops. Assessment includes research assignments and a comprehensive research proposal covering introduction, research question, theoretical perspective, setting description, methods, bibliography, time schedule, and budget.

  • Fieldwork Visual Anthropology
    15

    The course aims to provide practical experience in field research, guiding students to adapt research elements to local contexts, apply diverse methods, and analyze data for their research questions. Emphasizing reflection on anthropological theories, the ultimate objective is to produce data for a (visual) thesis. Fieldwork is a vital component, requiring immersive participation and addressing practical, theoretical, and positional challenges.

  • Thesis seminar Visual Anthropology
    6

    The Visual Thesis Seminar facilitates the transition from camera-based fieldwork to creating audio-visual work and a written report. The course is tailored to individual projects, incorporating relevant readings and inspiring screenings, providing a step-by-step program for organizing footage, developing anthropological film criteria, creating a narrative structure, and exploring montage principles. Students are prompted from the start to conceptualize the relationship between audio-visual work and the written report.

  • Master Thesis Visual Anthropology
    15

    The Visual Anthropology Thesis aims to present an audio-visual document alongside a written and oral account of an individual student's research study. The objectives include demonstrating familiarity with methodological and ethical aspects of social-scientific and camera-based research, extrapolating theoretical insights from empirical knowledge, and understanding and analyzing the social world and beliefs of different societal structures and cultures.

Compulsory course
Elective
Find more information in the online course catalogue
The Visual Anthropology track feels really unique in its community aspect. I especially enjoyed the post-fieldwork thesis seminars, where you are encouraged to watch each other’s fieldwork footage and give and receive feedback. It really supports the editing process of your thesis! Luna Evers, alumna