Exploring Culture and Gender through Film

Exploring Culture and Gender through Film introduces cultural anthropology through concepts and case studies presented in a variety of media. The book pairs accessible documentaries and ethnographic films with written material that addresses the same themes and issues. It provides conceptual tools and background information to help students understand both the visual and written content.

The material is loosely organized into three sections. The first focuses on basic concepts in anthropology while the second applies these concepts to the subject of inequality. The final section broadens this application to include issues in globalization. Specific topics include ethnography, ritual and gender, tribal politics, shatter zones, social media and social movements, stories of the black market, and genocide.

While ideally designed to be used in conjunction with the suggested films, the book also successfully stands alone as an introduction to cultural anthropology through contemporary issues. Exploring Culture and Gender through Film is a fresh, interesting choice for courses in social and cultural anthropology. It can also be used as a supplemental reader for classes in media studies or contemporary issues.

Christian Hammons teaches anthropology and critical media practices at the University of Colorado Boulder. He works at the intersection of anthropology and cinema, mostly in Indonesia, mostly on the relation between culture and state in out-of-the-way places. He holds a Ph. D. in cultural anthropology and an M. F. A. in film production from the University of Southern California.