Bourgeois and Proletarians[1888] By Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Final Paper Description (Anth 370-Winter 2018-Freeman)
For your final paper you have the option analyze the film Dead Birds in the context of the anthropological theories that we have been studying.
This is a classic ethnographic film that has received both praise and criticism. It is both sparse and evocative in its presentation leading to many possible interpretive paths.
In this paper I would like you to show how anthropological theories can be applied to this film, providing insight into both the film and possible theoretical ideas that may have shaped the making of the film or that could be used to better understand the film as an ethnographic text.
While our primary goal is to apply the theories we have been discussing, specific discussion of the film will be necessary to elucidate the given theory you are exploring. You will also bring in discussion of outside research to shed light on the film.
In examining what the film is about, you may consider the various meanings and symbols portrayed in the film, or focus on the portrayal of the people in the film.
You can examine how the film is framed, what questions are being asked or not, the focus of the film. Whatever your focus, you will explore the particular construction you are attending to and analyze how it compares and contrasts with the ideas of the various anthropologists we have been studying.
You will need to bring in discussion of two outside academic sources, which may also help guide you in the kinds of questions you might be focusing on-so search for these early on.
These could be on any related aspect such as the Dani people, who are featured in the film, on the historical context in which the film was made, on the filmmaker Robert Gardner, or on additional theoretical angles. Your goal is to come up with a cohesive thesis that allows you to incorporate your discussion of anthropological theory and two outside sources into your analysis of the film.
You may pay attention to any assumptions Gardner appears to be making, the filmmaker's overall approach, and even what is not explored in the film. Drawing on the ideas of at least three of our course readings, and two outside readings, analyze the film for parallels and contrasts to specific ideas within these texts. Be sure that your discussion is specific in its analysis.
Provide specific description from the film, possible quotes, any visual or narrative details. Pair these observations with a specific theoretical idea and an explication of how the theory helps to elucidate your observation. While you are drafting ideas for this paper, strive to find an interesting angle to explore, one that makes your reader curious, and one that will help you
to write an interesting thesis.
You will engage the following learning outcomes:
• Summarize theoretical and ethnographic texts.
• Analyze ethnographic text in light of theories.
• Compare theoretical approaches.
• Apply theories to an ethnographic text (the film itself) for analytical purposes.
Suggested organization of the paper:
Introduction: Introduce your topic-an anthropological analysis of Dead Birds. Provide a brief synopsis of the film here. Briefly state how you will be analyzing the film. Provide an interesting, clear, and specific thesis statement. (1 page)
Body of paper: (Proceed in any order.)
You might begin with a brief summary of the film, then discuss aspects of the film in turn more specifically that you would like to focus on for your analysis. Draw on both theories that jump out at you and theories that may be more
subtle with respect to the film.
You might even consider a discussion of what the filmmaker failed to portray, and/or, given more recent anthropological theory, what could have been portrayed with such theories in mind.
Discuss your outside sources and what light they
bring to the discussion. Try to connect your observations to your thesis statement as you go.
Be as specific as you can in comparing and contrasting detail of the film with specific anthropological theories. Be sure to explain any quotes you use, interpreting them for your reader, i.e. what you take them to mean and how they relate to your analysis. (6-7 pages, up
to 10 okay)
Conclusion: In your conclusion, summarize your major observations of connections between the film and anthropological theory that you have been discussing.
Restate your thesis here in light of the evidence you have discussed in the paper. Articulate the significance of your discussion, specifically or broadly, stating what value such analysis brings. In discussing significance you can point out, at the very least, the importance of considering the role of theory in shaping how we interrogate the world, and the relevance of its application to our general understanding.
However, a stronger conclusion will state the significance of your inquiry more specifically than that, pointing out, for example, the particular relevance of a central theoretical concept you explored in your paper. (One or two good paragraphs)