Bleary-Eyed Computer Chick Presents Anthropological Venice Photos
Well, I did remember to bring my firewire cable to the computer lab today (YAY!) but I have also been editing my latest film project on Final Cut Pro since 9am today, so this will inevitably be short. BUT, to make up for it, I am opening the post up as a Web Survey of sorts, so read on...
These are a few photos from our Venice trip that were specifically taken with my Ethnographic Cinema assignment in mind (hence why they don't necessarily come across as very scenic or touristy). The assignment was very broad: Show a set of images and explain why they can be considered anthropological.
Now, I took these particular images because I saw specific anthropological elements in them through my viewfinder. That is not to say that there couldn't exist parallel or even contradictory readings of these same images, so I encourage you to take a look at the slideshow and answer the question for yourselves!
What, if anything, is anthropological about these photographs?
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Reader Comments
1.
Dear Mar
I am so happy to look at your website,today
Dad is here to see me and I love all your
pictures, miss you so much ,please say hello to John. Love Maman
2.
Hmm, looks like Trafalgar Square with all those pigeons!!!
Hope to see more photos.
Lots of love to both of you,
Hotta
3.
Well, thanks for all the love coming from the family! It's always great to hear from you...
But where are the visual anthropological musings I know all you loyal readers must have?
xo
4.
sorry i was slow to respond, mar. i've been a writing psycho for the past few days ... but am taking a little break to answer your question. so, it seems that the first two are anthropological in the sense that you are documenting how the city represents itself in a public image (photograph 1) and compare this image to what you observed (photo 2). i wish i could read italian and comment more on the purpose the first photograph serves. these two photographs contrast with the next series in that they are not your typical "tourist" shots (as photo 3 is, although it also depicts a local custom and is therefore anthropological as well). photographs 4-7 are my fave, i think, depicting how the outsiders/tourists are attempting to capture the culture in photographs (i especially like all the older men staring at you taking shots of them!).
there's john writing something down ... capturing the experience in words rather than images? and then sexual images displayed in the culture (did john buy a tie?!?) photograph 11, my other favorite, images of someone's child. it almost looks like a little shrine ... where did you take this shot? and last, for some reason i picture some pissed off italians cursing bush's name while putting their butts out on the flag.
sorry for not going into great depth or anything ... so, what are you going to say about what is anthropological in your photographs?
5.
ok, so i just looked at the photograph again, and my brain finally kicked into gear: "respect the city" ... something you've documented the people are not doing.
also, i noticed there are many different babies in those photographs, yes?
and finally, i wanted to share that i actually saw the 2005 edition of the firemen calendar ... sheyam had it!
i miss you, mar!
6.
Jensen Kelly, as always, your brilliance makes me shiver! He he. YES! On all accounts, YES!! Very clever theorizing, my friend...
I will actually post what I was thinking by displaying the photos together (maybe tomorrow?), but I'm hungry and I want to go home now. Another long day editing...
xo