Duration
30h Th, 15h Pr
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course questions the relationship between art and anthropology. Furthermore, it gives the student a chance to experiment what artistic practices can contribute to ethnography, as fieldwork and as a communication practice to various audiences. During this academic year, students will be invited to work from the perspective of Klee's injunction, "to make the invisible visible".
Thus, the course presents itself as an introduction to the anthropology of art and the question of relations between artistic and anthropological approaches. Consequently, besides the discussion and experimenting of practical ethno-anthropological collaborations, the course considers the issue of engaged anthropological practices.
Firstly, the course aims to discuss fundamental notions (aesthetics, performance, poetics, politics, sensitive ...) starting from specific questions; How does anthropology define art? What are the affinities between the two? How does anthropology collaborate with artists? This part of the course is the first learning module of three, it consists of classical sitting course. At the end of three sitting sessions, students will be invited to exploratory/sensitive walks on the Sart-Timan site, aiming to work on various perceptions. These workshops will be coached by guest artists.
Secondly, the course emphasizes the interest of artistic practice for ethnography. Through the presentation of visual anthropology works, practical immersion exercises, and performances, the aim will be to familiarize oneself with the use of mixed analytical registers and to work on the development of attention.
Concretely, students are invited to participate in an immersive stay of 4 days (and three nights) which will be held in the Belgian Ardennes during the week of April 22 to 24 (the costs will be covered by the University, subject to obtaining funding and availability of place of residence). This stay is an integral part of the course.
The residency is built around three training axes, each axis is accompanied by a dedicated artist:
* an axis focusing on voice, music and perception of soundscapes
* an axis of bodily engagement and education of attention
* a visual axis which will be put into practice during the entire stay by a photographer
This is the second module.
Finally, this is the last module, students will - following the residency and taking advantage of the explorations carried out - produce a reflective report. The latter can be discussed with the lecturers during dedicated sessions, in particular with a view to supporting their writing, reinforcing certain analytical options, etc. Particular attention to the political dimensions of ethno-artistic investigation is requested, as well as a questioning of its capacity to create more or less public spaces of expression.
This course has the particular ambition of offering students short but impactful practical experiences of collaboration between artists and ethnographers.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
- To enter and participate in an analytically fruitful dialogue between art and anthropology;
- To approach the anthropological theories of art;
- To discover, familiarize with and produce sensitive ethnographies;
- To become familiar with the use of mixed analytical registers;
- To think out and present a hybrid ethnographical account;
- To develop one's attention capacities.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
- Good knowledge of and specific interest for ethnography;
- Interest in debates around the crisis of representation;
- Sincere curiosity for art (especially contemporary art).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course therefore consists of three distinct modules.
Module 1: Introduction to the relationships between anthropology and art, the related issues and theoretical debates. Hybridization in the social sciences. Classic "sitting sessions".
Attention education exercises after two seated sessions.
Module 2: Feel, perceive, interact, produce, communicate. "Immersion weekend", bringing together course students, doctoral students, lecturers and guest artists.
Module 3: Production of a mixed report based on the activities carried out during the residency. The production of mixed reports will be discussed in group session. During this academic year, students will be invited to work from the perspective of Klee's injunction, "to make the invisible visible".
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Blended learning
Additional information:
Each module has its own teaching method. The first module is divided into seated classes divided between ex-cathedra presentations and collective text analysis sessions. A portfolio of readings is available. It can be given remotely if circumstances require it.
The second module is based on a dense residential stay, during which students work with artists and other students. This module is based on the active participation of students.
The third module is based on students reviewing their observations and analyses. It is potentially carried out independently although students can still benefit from the support of their teachers and colleagues at this time within the framework of dedicated sessions.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
A reader is offered and readings are suggested. Support slides to the ex-cathedra courses are available.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Additional information:
The evaluation of students is based on the following elements:
- Participation in activities;
- Two short assignments during the year: a short essay of a selected article, a short paper on an ethnographic film;
- A reflective report of the immersive experience, with a presentation (in appendix) and a discussion of the raw materials resulting from the fielwork.
Final exam: oral presentation of the reflective report and discussions with lecturers.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The course is given in the second semester. The immersion stay (4 days and 3 nights) will take place the week of April 22 to 25. Mark your calendars! The costs are covered by the University.
The dates of the sessions will be available in the online calendar (celcat).
Contacts
Rachel BRAHY - Rachel.Brahy@uliege.be
Guy MASSART -Guy.Massart@uliege.be