Presentations for ANT 426 ("Orientalism:  Western Views of the Other")

Objectives

The main objective of the presentations is to provide illustrative material for the topics discussed in class. Theoretical analyses and generalizations about orientalism could, and indeed should guide your selection of the materials you present.  However, analyses and generalizations are not the main subject of your presentation (you will be able to present these in classroom discussion, in your essay and in your examination answers).  Careful data collection is perhaps the most important part of your presentation.

More specifically, the objectives of your presentation are:

a)      For you to discover some of the concrete manifestations of orientalism

b)      To enrich the knowledge of all of us in class with your discovery

c)      To provide concrete materials for us to ground our understanding of orientalism in specific examples.  Where appropriate these materials will be largely visual or auditory.  In the case of written texts they will include carefully selected quotations.

Let your illustrations make your points. A useful guide to preparing your presentation: Base what you say on what you show; not what you show on what you say.

Finding materials to present

Each presenter will begin looking for materials for the presentation from the suggestions on the web site (follow the link from each topic in the syllabus.)   These materials are not in themselves sufficient; you must consult other, related materials, which you will find yourself. 

Always contact the instructor to discuss your presentation, well in advance of its date.

Preparing materials for your presentation

In the case of written quotations, you may wish to present them in the form of slides.  In the case of visual images, presenting them as slides is imperative.

Slides must be recorded on a CD disk (a floppy or zip drive is not available - if you wish to use these and can fit your presentation on one then bring your own laptop) and then projected from a data projector.  The data projector will be available in class.  There are various types of software on the market that will allow you to produce slides for your presentation.  Among the best known is Microsoft Power Point.  In many cases you can capture an image for your slide from the internet.  In most cases you may have to scan the image onto disk.  Please consult with the advisor if you need help with this process. 

Videotapes can be projected from a VCR that will be available in class.  A DVD player is also available.

Music and sound can be played from the classroom equipment..

Please note that finding illustrative audio-visual materials is not enough for a successful presentation. Each presentation should also refer to written texts; some may refer to written texts exclusively. The illustrations must ALWAYS fit into a narrative presentation addressing some central issue in the readings for the day. Your mark will reflect both the richness and originality of your search for materials and your ability to relate them to the topic you're presenting on.

Something to avoid

Please include all presentation materials on the disk/VCR/DVD.  Do NOT pass around materials for people to look at while you are talking.  That could be quite distracting.

Are group presentations allowed?

Group presentations are not appropriate for a fourth year course except if people agree to work together with only one presenting.  This corresponds to practice at academic conferences.  In this course no more than two students will be allowed to team up, subject to the requirement that there be at least one student presenting in each class.  (If, for example, there are twenty students and twelve classes, then if all students teamed up there would be only ten presentations, leaving two classes without a presenter.)

The student who is not presenting might be operating the audiovisual equipment.

The structure of your presentation

Since the materials presented will vary, there is no rigid rule for how you should do your presentation.  However, your presentation must be prepared in writing and you must be reading your text as you present.  (This is standard practice at academic conferences.)  You need not hand in your text.

Do not ask the class questions during your presentation and do not take comments.  Questions and comments will follow your presentation and will be moderated by the instructor.

Length limit

The great Russian author, Dostoyevsky, received the following letter from his publisher: "Thank you for the draft of your new book. We think it will become a great classic, but it is much too long. We cannot publish it unless you cut it by one-third. Therefore we are returning your manuscript entitled "Crime, Punishment and Redemption"

Please prepare your presentation so it will take no longer than 25 minutes, including time necessary for preparing and operating the audiovisual equipment.  Do a dry run and time how long it takes.

When to start your presentation in class

Please show up in class on the hour in order to test the equipment.  This will prevent technical problems during the presentation.

You will have worked hard on your presentation and you will want to start presenting it as soon as people are ready for the class.  However, the presentation is only one element of the class.  Please allow the instructor to begin the class and to introduce the lecture topic and your presentation first.

Please remain seated at your usual place until asked by the instructor to begin your presentation.  Then come to the board to present it.  Most people present more effectively standing up than sitting down.

Examples of past presentations

Jenna Judd on the veil in western fashions (2003-04)