03/18 @ 6:00 PM
Peterson Hall 108

"Ethnographic Animation"
A hands-on animation workshop led by anthropologist-filmmaker Alexandra D'Onofrio

Limited Space!
Sign up here:
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Synopsis:
Animation is a newcomer in ethnographic filmmaking, yet it is gaining popularity in both mainstream documentary cinema and academic study. The rise of animated documentary, even among anthropologists, reflects a growing recognition that the truth claims in non-fiction cannot always rely on photographic realism. Instead, it acknowledges that social realities and events shaping our lives are often unobservable and ambiguous, making conventional documentary evidence inadequate. Animation contributes to ethnographic practices by creatively engaging with experiences and possibilities beyond our grasp.

Although not traditionally associated with anthropology, animated documentaries often involve collaborative processes between interlocutors and filmmakers, enabling the visualisation of experiences that might otherwise remain difficult to express.

Following a brief introduction to animated documentary and ethnographic animation, this seminar includes a hands-on workshop in which participants experiment with drawing and basic stop-motion animation, exploring their potential as tools for ethnographic inquiry and knowledge-making.

Bio:
Alexandra D’Onofrio is a visual anthropologist, documentary filmmaker, and community arts facilitator whose work explores experiences of migration through collaborative practices of filmmaking, animation, theatre, and storytelling. Drawing on methods inspired by Theatre of the Oppressed, PhotoVoice, and Participatory Video, her practice investigates the spaces between imagination, memory, and lived experience in contexts of migration and critical events. She completed her PhD in Anthropology, Media, and Performance at the University of Manchester in 2017.