In the summer of 2001 the IWF in Göttingen hosted the conference »Origins of Visual Anthropology – Putting the Past Together«. Important representatives of the field came together to discuss the history of the subdiscipline. Three students were equally interested in their visions about »The Future of Visual Anthropology«. They conducted brief interviews concerning this question with filmmakers and scholars such as Jean Rouch, Ian Dunlop, Paul Henley, Karl Heider, Howard Morphy, Peter Crawford, Harald Prins and Jay Ruby.

»The Future of Visual Anthrolopogy« presents the common themes that were touched upon during these conversations by juxtaposing different perspectives. The film is a reflection on how people talk and think about the future, present and past of Visual Antrhropology in 2001.

Language of dialogues: English, French
Language of subtitles: English

Lal, a remote bazaar surrounded by the high mountains of the Western Hindu Kush in Central Afghanistan, struggles to find peace after more than 30 years of war. Everyday life in these harsch wintery surroundings don't seem to leave much space to deal with the new situation. Former Mujaheddin Commanders, religious leaders and newly elected state officials each have their respective views of this new system called 'democracy'. In this film these different actors tell us about their past, explain their respective views on the democratic changes and reveal their individual expectations for the future.

Language of dialogues: Farsi, English
Language of subtitles: English

The documentary film is a part of a multimedia study which consists of visual and editorial parts. Apart from the film, the DVD offers thematically digested shots recorded in scope of the research and a photogallery. Visual as well as editorial part connects possibilities of verbal and visual language and is bound to serve as an interception of the complexity of the observed march and to the representation of the dance as a cultural context. The complexity should help to reveal and deliver the connotation of the traditional event in today´s local society. The documentary can be publicised separately as well and its informational value does not depend on the supporting text of the multimedia study.

Daneila Stavělová operates as a research worker at an Ethnological Institute AV ČR, V.V.I.. Her main field is ethnochoreography and anthropology of dance. In the scope of the specialisation she lectures at the department of dance at HAMU, Prague, where she organises workshops as well. She cooperates as a choreograph at designing of thematical scenical projects which deal with traditional dance and music culture. This year, Daniela Stavělová was confered an Award of Ministry of Culture for outstanding contribution in the field of folklore and for interconnecting the scientific, artisitc and pedagogical activities.

The project was executed in the scope of the research AVOZ 90580513 of the Ethnological Institute AV ČR, v.v.i. and subsidized by Ministry of Culture CR within the programme Traditional folklor culture.

Language of dialogues: Czech
Language of subtitles: English