My experience of Visual Anthropology at Manchester

by | Apr 20, 2021 | Postgraduate, Sociology, Social Anthropology and Social Statistics | 0 comments

MA Visual Anthropology student, Aaron Robinson, shares his experience of studying at The University of Manchester.

Why I chose to study Visual Anthropology at Manchester

I visited Manchester many years ago as a tourist from America. Something about the city struck me and I felt this pull to come back. I remember wandering through the University’s museum back then and I thought that if I pursued a postgraduate degree then Manchester would be at the top of my list.

The Visual Anthropology course at Manchester is world renowned as the best place in the world to study. The professors are top notch and it’s always a thrill to meet the people you’ve read. Plus the whole department recently hit #1 in the UK!

Master’s highlights

Aside from the excellent teaching staff and students, having access to real world equipment has been a blast! I also really love the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology library that gives us great access to material.

In terms of course units, I really enjoyed Vision, Senses, and Memory. It really tackled a diverse set of theory and applied it to anthropology.

Employability

Photograph of an atrium looking upwards towards the lightThe Visual Anthropology course gives one real practical hands on applications of theory. It’s one thing to read and write but a whole other to go out into the field, research, and bring back tangible material. Learning to make films, photographs, and sound recordings to prove a theoretical point has been really enlightening. I think that being able to show work I’ve made on professional equipment will be an excellent calling card when I start looking for work.

Advice to prospective students

A prospective applicant should choose Manchester for a variety of reasons. First, if their prospective course has a strong history at the University or one of their academic idols is teaching here. Second, if they want a rigorous course that will set them apart from others in the field. Thirdly, if they want to be in a city with lots going on and an excellent music scene.

0 Comments