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SSA321 History of Anthropological Theory

SSA321 History of Anthropological Theory. In Alain Silver.doc. Portfolio on CD-Rom Candidate No. 178202 1 st May 2003. Introduction.

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SSA321 History of Anthropological Theory

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  1. SSA321 History of Anthropological Theory In Alain Silver.doc Portfolio on CD-Rom Candidate No. 178202 1st May 2003

  2. Introduction I have chosen to compile research information on Robert Flaherty (see slide 2), who was a pioneer in ethnographic film, and whose masterpiece, Nanook of the North,1922, is still the subject of debate in anthropology (MacDougall 1998: 103). The aim of this CD is to provide information on Flaherty (prior to 1922), and Nanook; the references by cited authors to other Flaherty films are not intended to be used in this context, as they are more recent than 1922, the so-called beginning of Structural-Functionalism and Modern British Anthropology. This work is, therefore, research both on the person of Flaherty, and the influence of Flaherty on the development of ethnographic film as a genre within anthropology. (Unfortunately it proved too challenging to import a video clip from the film, as it does not appear to be on the web.)

  3. Robert Flaherty I have chosen to compile this information on Flaherty and his work on the film Nanook of the North. The film was published in 1922, the same year as Malinowski’s Argonauts of the Western Pacific. My main argument is that the film has ethnographic merit and by extension Flaherty can be considered an early anthropologist. The time consuming process of production for a film rules out any Structural-Functional or Functional influence on the making of Nanook, which predates it. Encyclopaedia References and links on Flaherty, the man: • http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/people/A0818850.html • http://www.mr-moody.com/goldenboy/whoswho3/flaherty_r.htm • Wikipedia on Flaherty.doc • Doros on Flaherty.doc • (Picture from http://www.mr-moody.com/goldenboy/whoswho3/flaherty_r.htm)

  4. Still from Nanook of the North • “Released in 1922, Nanook is cited by most film historians as the first feature-length documentary” • http://www.oneworldmagazine.org/seek/nanook/nbiblio.htm for article by Alain Silver. Nyla, Nanook's wife, and her baby at the trading post ,

  5. Film-making • These articles provide a general discussion on documentary and ethnographic film, and consider Flaherty’s position within it. Consideration is given to some technical aspects, as well as theoretical aspects of the genres. (Links to source websites cited in documents) • Flaherty on Nanook.doc • Abstract of talk by J. Ruby: The Death of Ethnographic Film http:/astro.ocis.temple.edu/~ruby/aac/ruby.html and The Death of Ethnographic Film.doc • Conversation between Shapiro and Godmilow on documentary film: Conversation.doc • Review of Nanook: Sherwood on Film.doc • Ethnographer as Scientist: Early documentary filmmakers as scientists.doc

  6. Film making (continued) • Comment on the emergence of Ethnographic Film: Prerana Reddy.doc • Comment on the originality of Nanook in the Guardian: Nanook of the North (Guardian).doc

  7. Ethnographic Merit • Flaherty’s enduring work is the 1922 film Nanook of the North, which has prompted much discussion within anthropology as to its ethnographic merit. See MacDougall 1998: 103. • Robert Flaherty's NANOOK OF THE NORTH created the very genre of film documentary, with its documentation of Nanook the Inuit and the Eskimo traditions which were even then being erased by the influences of the white man. For close to 70 years, what we knew of Eskimo culture was what we learned from NANOOK OF THE NORTH. Unfortunately, the documentary is as much Flaherty's artistic and directorial imagination as reality. This program revisits Inukjiak, the site of Flaherty's filming, where Eskimo oral tradition still retains the memory of Flaherty's shoot, and learns that, among other things, the man's name was not Nanook, the women said to be Nanook's wives were actually Flaherty's, and the Inuits thought what Flaherty was asking them to do for the camera so hilarious they couldn't stop laughing. (unfortunately this anecdote is unsubstantiated by reference but it is amusing) • http://www.avdist.fsu.edu/V070852.htm • macdougall on flaherty.pdf • http://www.geocities.com/gcalla1/nanook.htm

  8. Visual Records and References • Archival goods: Nanook Box 23, stills from Nanook box 24. http://www.flahertyseminar.org/archives_home.htm • A rough sequence of events in the film: http://www.unb.ca/web/anthropology/nanook.htm • http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/cb/flah1.htm : Photographs of Flaherty • http://momawas.moma.org/collection/depts/film_media/blowups/film_media_005.html

  9. Bibliography MacDougall, D., 1998, Transcultural Cinema, Princeton University Press Malinowski, 1922, Argonauts of the Western Pacific, Oxford University Press LINKS to Bibliographies: Further references to Flaherty and Film in Bibliography Web.doc, from www.hatii.arts.gla.ac.uk/MultimediaStudent Projects/98-99/950004s/project/html/bibliogr.htm Web Resources for scholars by Ruby: Flaherty Index.htm Bibliography on Documentary Film http://www.anotherscene.com/cinema/docubib.html

  10. Bibliography (continued). • Robert J Flaherty: A Biography (ed.) Jay Rubyhttp://nimbus.ocis.temple.edu/~jruby/wava/Flaherty/title.html • Filmography • Flaherty, R. J., 1922, Nanook of the North

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