Made to Be Seen

Made to be Seenbrings together leading scholars of visual anthropology to examine the historical development of this multifaceted and growing field. Expanding the definition of visual anthropology beyond more limited notions, the contributors toMade to be Seenreflect on the role of the visual in all areas of life. Different essays critically examine a range of topics: art, dress and body adornment, photography, the built environment, digital forms of visual anthropology, indigenous media, the body as a cultural phenomenon, the relationship between experimental and ethnographic film, and more. The first attempt to present a comprehensive overview of the many aspects of an anthropological approach to the study of visual and pictorial culture,Made to be Seenwill be the standard reference on the subject for years to come. Students and scholars in anthropology, sociology, visual studies, and cultural studies will greatly benefit from this pioneering look at the way the visual is inextricably threaded through most, if not all, areas of human activity.

Marcus Banks is professor of visual anthropology at the University of Oxford and the author, most recently, of Using Visual Data in Qualitative Research. Jay Ruby is professor emeritus of anthropology at Temple University and the author or editor of numerous books, including Picturing Culture: Essays on Film and Anthropology, also published by the University of Chicago Press.