“The history of ethnographic film is rich in examples of film’s unique capacity to record the multileveled nature of events, of its usefulness in teaching new ways of seeing, and of its power to evoke deeply positive feelings about mankind by communicating the essence of a people” (Emilie de Brigard “The History of Ethnographic Film” in Principles of Visual Anthropology, 38).
The PBS-BBC 2009 documentary The Story of India is a historical survey of the subcontinent from prehistory to the present as told in six, one-hour episodes. The narrator, Michael Wood, attempts, and I would argue is successful, to tell the story of India from the perspective of Indians. He does so, not with a voice-over narration (typical of an older ethnographic/documentary film style), but by being on camera, interacting with people, interviewing experts and locals, visiting sites and introducing the viewer to the richness of the religious, artistic, scientific and literary culture of India. He embodies the viewer, giving us the closest to firsthand opportunity, in seeing the plurality of Indian culture. In this manner, Wood and the filmmakers of this series are far removed from the “colonial gaze.” The gaze that is employed throughout the entire series is one of wonder and curiosity, not from a position of power, but from a place of appreciation. Cinematic tools (such as wide-angle and aerials shots, for example) are employed to best present views of sites that are all encompassing, providing the viewer with a range of sight that would otherwise not be physically possible. Additionally, regular references are made, contextualizing the genealogy of Indian history with that of other ancient cultures, confronting imperialist historiography. In my opinion, the collaborative effort present here in this series, in telling The Story of India, functions as an example of best practices in the burgeoning field of the Digital Humanities.
The Story of India, episode one, full 55 minutes:
PBS Website with Interviews of Michael Wood explaining the goals and experiences of the project (reviews of the series, summaries of the episodes and further information is also accessible here on the website):
arthistoryvisualculturalstudies 