Naga Identities · 2009

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Ethno documentary

Naga Identities

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Camera, director: Luc Schaedler
Production: go between films
CH 2009 | raw footage | not completed

The village of Zanghkam in the Nagaland region of the Northeastern frontier in India certainly has a great potential for a long documentary film. But not as a remote mountain village untouched by civilisation with an intact indigenous culture. Rather the opposite: Zanghkam is a tragic example of being suspended between a lost tradition, a confusing and sad present and an unpromising future. The documentary Naga Identities tries to grasp this dilemma and make it comprehensible.

A mythical song from Nagaland · 2009

«The existing twelve hours of raw footage for this Ethno documentary were shot in March 2009 as part of a large research project on Nagaculture in India’s Northeastern border regions. Other products of the same research were the exhibtion “Naga: Ornaments and Ashes”, as well as the publication “Naga Identities: Changing Local Cultures in the Northeast of India”. It contains a collection of articles by various authors spanning an enlightening ark from the warring past, to an equally problematic present, to a very uncertain future.»
Luc Schaedler

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Sep 03, 2017 | films | Comments Off on Naga Identities · 2009

Intro and Publications

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Visual Anthropology

Between the arts and science

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(Short) Intro

Visual Anthropology is a discipline of practice and theory. As a subfield of Cultural Anthropology it is concerned with the production of ethnographic images and the analysis of visual representations as well as its relationship to other fields of society and culture.

intro and publications - visual anthropology - intro-and-publications

The reversal of the gaze, Eastern Tibet 1930’s

Since his Master- and Ph.D thesis Luc Schaedler of «go between films» is involved in Visual Anthropology, both as part of his teaching at Universities and film schools, and as deep influence for his documentary films.

«The relationship between verbal and visual forms of expression in the field of ethnography (science) are manyfold. How they be mixed, can not be categorically decided. Each situation needs its own assesment and an experimental attitude towards both. Which dosis may be prescribed, is solely a question of art».
MICHAEL OPPITZ

→ «Das kleine Zürcher Filmwunder» – Visuelle Anthropologie an der Universität Zürich

→ «Der Film ist auch ein Showcase für die Universität» – Gespräch mit Luc Schaedler

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Publications

Below you will find the Master- and the Ph.D. thesis of Luc Schaedler and a selection of previous articles:

↓ Ph.D.: ANGRY MONK: Literary, Historical, and Oral Sources for a Documentary Film (2007)

↓ Master: Arbeitsbericht zur Entstehung von MADE IN HONG KONG (1998)

↓ The little differences: cross-cultural exchange in filmschools (2011)

↓ Über die Wissenschaftlichkeit von Dokumentarfilmen (2009)

↓ Westliche Okkupation und östliche Selbstreflexion: Buddhismus im Spielfilm (2002)

↓ Tibet: Ein Projektionsfeld Westlicher Phantasien (1994)

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Angry Monk

A critical discussion of the documentary film «Angry Monk» as a hybrid between the arts and science:

↓ History & Anthropology (2008) – A critical review of «Angry Monk»

↓ Visual Anthropology (2008) – A critical review of «Angry Monk»

↓ American Anthropologist (2010) – Angry Monk: Reflections on Tibet

↓ IIAS Newsletter (2008) – Rebel with a cause: debunking the mythical & mystical Tibet

↓ AEMS Review (2008) – A critical review of «Angry Monk»

↓ Himal Southasian (2006) – The new reasoning of Gendun Choephel

↓ Revue de l’Inde (2006) – Réflexions sur le Tibet

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Sep 20, 2008 | visual anthropology | Comments Off on Intro and Publications

research-at-doc

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Anthropology

Visual Research

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Luc Schaedler of go between films sees himself at the interface of art, film and Visual Anthropology. Since 1996 he has been involved in various projects that conduct artistic, cinematic and scientific research using exclusively visual means (research-at-doc).

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Angry Monk (2001-07)
Doctoral Thesis

This visual research into Tibetan history and the biography of the radical monk Gendun Choephel had been designed as a bastard between art and science from the very beginning. The documentary film (90 mins.) is accompanied by a written thesis (2) critically discussing and contextualizing the research materials. It was the first film to be accepted as the main part of a Ph.D at the University of Zurich.

→ To the film «Angry Monk»

→ «Angry Monk» – a scientific discourse

Made in Hong Kong (1995-97)
Master Thesis

A visual research project in the fields of urban anthropology, migration and oral history. The documentary film (75 mins.) is accompanied by a written text, that critically discusses the making of the film and the working process in the form of a handbook for students (3). It was the first film to be accepted as the main part of a MA at the University of Zurich.

→ To the film «Made in Hong Kong»

→ Made in Hong Kong – A Handbook for Students (3)

Naga Identities (2009-11)
as part of an exhibition

The twelve hours of footage were shot in March 2009 as part of a large research project on Naga culture in India’s Northeastern border regions. Other products of the same research were the exhibtion “Naga: Ornaments and Ashes”, as well as the publication “Naga Identities: Changing Local Cultures in the Northeast of India”. It contains a collection of articles by various authors spanning an enlightening ark from the warring past, to an equally problematic present, to a very uncertain future.

→ to the project «Naga Identities»

Shamans of the Blind Country (2007-08)
Digitalising a classic of Visual Anthropology

Historical footage is mostly analog, the cinema of tomorrow digital: with color corrections, adaptions of the sound tracks as well as the reconstruction of the original order of the sequences Michael Oppitz’ ethnographic classic from 1978 was brought into the digital age. With Thomas Bochet.

Poster/flyer of “Made in Hong Kong”, 1997

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Sep 19, 2008 | visual anthropology | Comments Off on research-at-doc

Smartphone Anthropology

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Visual Anthropology

University of Fribourg
Social Anthropology

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A practical seminar

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Description

Visual Anthropology deals with visual «representations» of cultural and social conditions in a reflective manner, both practically and theoretically. Historically, it has developed from the illustration of written travelogues into an independent research and knowledge tool.

Initially still analog, it has increasingly shifted to digital space, both in terms of production and «evaluation» (multimedia websites, blogs, YouTube, etc.). Today, Visual Anthropology goes far beyond mere representation and observation and is increasingly oriented towards participatory approaches (see an input lecture by Dr. Darcy Alexandra followed by a discussion).

The practical seminar «Smartphone Anthropology» is aimed at bachelor and master students who are interested in Visual Anthropology and would like to work visually as part of their studies. Debates will also be addressed and critically discussed, reflecting central questions within visual anthropology.

In this mainly practical seminar we will still read some theoretical texts, analyze documentary films and produce our own film contributions in group work. Through practical exercises, students will acquire rudimentary skills in using the smartphone as a research tool. Especially as a widespread everyday object, smartphones allow low-threshold access to the field and the “protagonists” involved.

Lecturer

Dr. Luc Schaedler: Studied ethnology at the University of Zurich. Graduated with two documentary films: Made in Hong Kong (Master, 1997) and Angry Monk (Ph.D., 2005). Independent filmmaker and producer since 2001.
→ Video On Demand

Smartphone Anthropology - Luc Schaedler - Visual Anthropology

Anka Schmid working on a documentary with her smartphone, 2020

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Below is a LINK to what gadgets we will need in the upcoming practical seminar «Smartphone Anthropology». To be able to film “professionally” with the smartphone a small investment will be necessary (appr. CHF 100).

To Smartphone Equipment and Filmic Pro → click here

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Sep 17, 2008 | visual anthropology | Comments Off on Smartphone Anthropology

Smartphone Equipment

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Visual Anthropology

Filming with a smartphone

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FILMIC Pro
for iPhone & Android

Following «smartphone equipment» is neccesary to be able to film «professionally». The pre-installed photo and video apps are not good enough. You need a specialized video app that allows you to flexibly adjust different settings. This concerns both the image (format, quality, stabilization, colors, sharpness, aperture) and the sound (quality, codec).

On App Store or Google Play

→ FILMIC Pro (CHF 14)

Filmic Pro offers everything that is necessary for filming. The user maual of FILMIC Pro can be downloaded as pdf document.

Alternatively, you can download a summarized manual for FILMIC Pro with a description of the most important settings, including screenshots (German only).

Screenshot of «settings-menu»

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Filming Kit
Equipment for a smartphone

For the appropriate handling of the smartphone while filming, and the best possible quality of the sound, good equipment, like a Filming Kit is required. This consists of a mini-tripod (which can be held in the hand and guide the camera), a smartphone holder (to attach the smartphone to the tripod and also as a holder for the microphone) and an external microphone (for better sound quality and to suppress hand noise on the smartphone).

Filming kit for smartphones (iPhone & Android)