Behind the Academic Lens

Work from a new generation of student filmmakers will be screened at a premiere in the Cruciform Building on Thursday 10 June 2010. 'Behind the Academic Lens' is a celebration of visual anthropology in practice; using digital media to study, observe, record and analyse what makes us human. The films, which have all been made by UCL anthropology students, are part of a practical course in hands-on documentary filmmaking that forms part the UCL masters degree programme. The course was initiated in response to the growing need among anthropologists to use digital media as a research tool and as a way to present research outcomes. Screenings include: T he Double Life of Noreen Khan which features rollerskater and boxer Noreen, an East End graphic designer, whose ethnic Mongolian parents can?t read or write Bruce and I , which sees filmmaker Lasse Johansson and his neighbour share a fatal disease in a story where access to knowledge is the secret of survival Alex Sherlock's All My Love , an exploration into the spirit of objects and the power of the material world to store and preserve emotion and memory Stephanie Patten's Time to Talk in which a quiet drink in the pub leads Jack to ponder his life as a peacekeeper during the troubles in Northern Ireland The event will also include a prize ceremony for the Best Film on the Practical Filmmaking Masters Course and for the Best Film on the UCL/Insight short course programme. Image above: Student filming - UCL context. The breadth of Anthropology at UCL distinguishes its programme from those offered by most other British universities.