TY - JOUR
T1 - The camera in ‘native’ hands
T2 - The making of ethnicity in a temple video
AU - Bai, Zhihong
PY - 2007/12
Y1 - 2007/12
N2 - This paper examines the representation of Bai ethnicity based on a video made by a local Bai cameraman for temple carers. Presenting this video as a case of identity construction, this article deals with how a locally made video functions as a constructive tool which allows the cameraman and the locals, to some extent, to reproduce Bai ethnicity. In this case, the camera in ‘native’ hands is not used to visualise anthropology. The commonality between an independent video-making agenda and one that is geared toward anthropological inquiry challenges us to ponder if it is essential to distinguish between films made by anthropologists or the ‘natives’ that represent who they/we are.
AB - This paper examines the representation of Bai ethnicity based on a video made by a local Bai cameraman for temple carers. Presenting this video as a case of identity construction, this article deals with how a locally made video functions as a constructive tool which allows the cameraman and the locals, to some extent, to reproduce Bai ethnicity. In this case, the camera in ‘native’ hands is not used to visualise anthropology. The commonality between an independent video-making agenda and one that is geared toward anthropological inquiry challenges us to ponder if it is essential to distinguish between films made by anthropologists or the ‘natives’ that represent who they/we are.
KW - Ethnicity
KW - Gender
KW - Representation
KW - The Bai
KW - Video
KW - ‘Temple
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84949753284&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14442210701658561
DO - 10.1080/14442210701658561
M3 - Article
SN - 1444-2213
VL - 8
SP - 309
EP - 319
JO - Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology
JF - Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology
IS - 4
ER -