"Current Events Offer Study Opportunities for Anthropologists" - article by Holly McCarthy

Most of us are in our final year here now, many of us spreading around in travels and research already in search of concrete possibilities.. We had the chance to have a talk by Pr. Pat Caplan on the topic of employability who returned to us this January after the ISEFF festival. Unfortunately it is difficult for students to collectively engage in such issues as we are faced with the fragmentation of goals and concerns within a very wide field... But it is possible.

The following post is a contribution by Holly McCarthy, who writes on the subject of recognized online universities.
Holly invites your feedback at hollymccarthy12@gmail.com

Current Events Offer Study Opportunities for Anthropologists

In our current world climate, there are a myriad of things for an anthropologist to study. From the economic downturn affecting the economies of nearly all of the major powers in the world to the food shortages suffered by developing nations, anthropologists only need to find an area of specialty and get ready to dig in their heels for the wild ride ahead. The coming months and years will surely provide plenty of material for anthropologists to pore over.

Food Shortages

Food shortages still exist in a world that is dominated by financial, rather than humanitarian interests and have only been exacerbated by the Western desire to create bio-fuels. How cultures deal with the prospect of hunger in the world is something that is not new, but continues to plague underdeveloped nations and the solution to these problems lie in the hands of those in power in advanced nations.

Fair Trade

Though the notion of Fair Trade consumption is not a new one, it has yet to catch on. Why wouldn’t people want to ensure that those working hard to produce the goods that we use on a daily basis were fairly compensated for their hard work? This is a good question, and one that may finally be answered in our lifetimes. Fair Trade goods help people on all ends of the consumer chain by making sure that everyone can become a greater participant in global economics.

Economic Crisis

Greed and power struggles have paved the way for serious economic strife if major changes to the world economic system are not made. How the powers that be plan on taking care of this elephant in the room will be something that is studied by academics in all fields for many years to come. From an anthropological standpoint, what is valued by certain cultures within society will certainly help shape the way things ultimately play out down the road.

While some critics believe that the field of anthropology has outlasted its usefulness, one only has to look at the emerging global cultural climate and the many opportunities for field research and study. The world is a changing place and witnessing the growth of a new kind of culture is something that can be done in real time, rather than having to reverse-engineer it after the fact.

the 2009 season - what's on

Happy new year to you all!
We're looking forward to an interesting start of the year with Stephen Nugent's film "Waila" next Monday evening, from 5 to 7p.m. in room 137 of the main building at Goldsmiths. The following week it will be the turn of Massimiliano Mollona to present his film "Steel lives" on the steel factories in Sheffield, North of England - which has only rarely been screened so a great opportunity to catch an anthropologist and talk about his work behind the camera and the implications of it.
everything on
www.calamma.net/anthropologysociety/

Alternatively we'd like to call students to contact us to take over next year to pursue the legacy left by this intense year of seminars and debates - and most importantly that left by the ISEFF, which was a very positive achievement, but one awaiting to be developed further.
if you are interested please contact Antoine Brunner at amcb83@aol.com

The 11th RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Film 1 – 4 July 2009

Dear colleagues,

I like to draw your attention to the up-coming submission deadline of our documentary festival. Thanks for forwarding to interested people.

** With apologies for cross-posting **

The 11th RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Film 2009
will be held in Leeds, 1 – 4 July 2009

Sponsored by The Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) jointly with
The Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change, Leeds Metropolitan University,
The Northern Film School, Leeds Metropolitan University, and
The Louis Le Prince Centre for Cinema, Photography and Television, Leeds University
The National Media Museum, Bradford


For submission conditions, entry forms and awarded prizes please see the attachments or check the RAI website http://www.therai.org.uk/film/festival/index.html or the dedicated Film Festival website www.raifilmfest.org.uk; Here you find as well information about the international conference "Motion in Emotion: The Passions of tourism and Travel, 5 – 6 July 2009.

We invite you to submit your recent productions, released (first screened in public) after 1 January 2006.


The Deadline for Submission is 15 January 2009 (postmark date); please make sure that the preview tapes arrive by 24 January at the latest. Please submit the form and stills by e-mail (festival@therai.org.uk) and send the preview tape (VHS or DVD) separately by post.

Please contact me for any enquiries.

Awaiting your submissions, with very best wishes

Susanne Hammacher
Film Officer / Festival Manager
------------------------------------
The Royal Anthropological Institute
50 Fitzroy Street
London W1T 5BT
UK
film@therai.org.uk

http://www.therai.org.uk
phone: +44-(0)20-7387 0455
fax number: +44-(0)20-7388 8817

Monday 1st of December, Goldsmiths - Joram Ten Brink on the Cinema of Jean Rouch

Discovering Jean Rouch work- early works in Africa and their impact on film making in Europe ( incl. screening of extracts from Rouch's major film productions in West Africa)

Joram ten Brink is a filmmaker and a Professor of Film at the University of
Westminster. He works as a writer/director of documentary and experimental films in the UK and Holland. His films have been broadcasted and theatrically released in the UK, USA, Holland, Israel, France, Germany and Spain. His work has been screened at the Berlin and Rotterdam film festivals and at MOMA in New York. Prof. ten Brink heads the practice based PhD programme in Arts and Design at the University of Westminster and is the director of Centre for Production and Research in Documentary film. In 2004 he organised a major international conference and a programme of screenings on the work of the French anthropologist and filmmaker Jean Rouch. In 2007 he edited the first major book on Rouch's work in English – Building Bridges- the cinema of Jean Rouch (Wallflower Press, London).
http://www.wmin.ac.uk/mad/page-1163

ISEFF - your feedback!

now the ISEFF is over, we would like you to take a moment and reflect on the festival and what could be improved, also any comments on this year's award-winners:

- Anthropology as a Service night: "No Such thing as a Free lunch" (Tate Lefevre)


- Aesthetics of Encounter night: "30 years more" (Josh Neff)


FEEL FREE TO LEAVE COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE!

Anthropology section in the SMITH magazine.

Hi to all,
As the new editor for the Anthropology section for the SMITHS magazine I would like to invite you all for a chance to shine.

We would like to give you all the opportunity to show the rest of Goldsmiths what you truly think, believe, and how you feel. Perhaps this could be a chance to get your work out there for others beyond the anthropology department to view. If it matters to you, it will matter to the rest.

What we are particularly looking for, are articles, from which your inspiration will exude. We want the people to know what anthropology has to offer them.

The anthropology section is a unique place for all, whether you’re a first year student, a student doing their PHD or even if you’re not a part of the Anthropology department; it’s a place to give a piece of yourself.

As anthropology has such a diverse range of topics, anything is possible. Remember pictures also speak a thousand words and as our department deals with the visual side of anthropology don’t be afraid to explore that side either.

This magazine is about you, the people. There’s no hidden agenda.

If you have anything you would like to write about, comment on or something you just want to say then please don’t hesitate to e-mail me on anthropology@smiths.gold.ac.uk

Looking forward to hearing from you all,

Madalena Pantazis =)

this week's two seminars - ISEFF

Monday 10th - RHB137a Goldsmiths Main Building


Wednesday 12th - Small Hall Cinema Goldsmiths Main Building