A Year in the Field - PREVIEW

https://store.der.org/a-year-in-the-field-p1033.aspx

Dennis Lanson, George Gmelch
color, 33 min, 2020

A Year in the Field shows, through the experiences of a young Estonian anthropologist in a Newfoundland fishing village, how cultural anthropologists carry out ethnographic field research or “fieldwork.” This methodology, particularly “participant observation,” more than any other attribute gives cultural anthropology its unique identity.

We see anthropologist Joonas Plaan at first struggling to gain acceptance among the locals, some of whom think he is a Russian spy. But then, by working alongside the fishers as a crew member on crab and lobster boats he not only develops rapport but gains their respect. The film illustrates all the main elements of field research: from moving into a foreign community, learning the language, defining one’s role, living as closely as possible to the ways of the “natives,” and recording their culture for a year or more.

The film highlights the value of local or indigenous knowledge. It also shows how the long-term and immersive nature of fieldwork becomes a transformative experience for the individual who engages in it.

A Year in the Field is a valuable resource for anthropology students and for scholars interested in the methods of anthropology.

Видео A Year in the Field - PREVIEW канала Documentary Educational Resources