Location: Budapest, Hungary
Date and time: 27 August - 3 September 2023
Organisers
Centre for Governance and Culture in Europe, University of St. Gallen; Civil Művek; Budapest Metropolitan University; FORTHEM Diversity and Migration Lab UO; University of Opole; Geographical Institute Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences; Moving.Lab.
Project description
The one-week long, on-site summer school dedicated to exploring the potential of documentary film making in social science research and dissemination of research results. It offers an innovative, practice-oriented knowledge to students, empowering them with a skill which they can use either in their future research or dissemination.
Multisensory audiovisual media help not only to overcome text-centric approaches in research by including into the critical analysis such feature as sound, rhythm, composition, as well as performance, nonverbal communication that could reveal and (literally) show tacit “know-how” knowledge, rituals, and complexity of the relationships inside the community and with external actors; but also, to construct and conduct space of encounter, exchange, experience, and dialogue.The movie and cinema production allows establishing an alternative communication platform during the fieldwork, later with the audience, and with time as a (re)presentation of the historical, ideological period it belongs to. Visual methods are one of the possible instruments to overcome obstacles related to one-dimensional mono-rhetorical narratives that bring back “muted” histories that are still can be perceived.
Józsefváros, or the 8th district of Budapest, has traditionally been the ethnically and linguistically most diverse area of the Hungarian capital. Its inner part was built up by aristocrats, while the outer parts were inhabited by merchants, craftsmen, and workers. In the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, this was a gateway: the train lines from the eastern and north-eastern parts of the Monarchy arrived at Józsefváros, bringing thousands of overwhelmingly poor people (day labourers, maids) from East Hungary, East Slovakia, Transcarpathia, and Galicia to the capital. During the Socialist period, the conditions of the built environment gradually deteriorated, and by the 1980s, Józsefváros became associated with crime, prostitution, Roma, and in general very poor living conditions. Since 2000 certain parts of the 8th district have gone through fundamental transformations. Partly due to a complex urban rehabilitation project, and partly due to gentrification and studentification. Still, it prevails as a gateway: it is popular with those moving from the countryside to the capital and with immigrants from various parts of Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Western Europe. Therefore, multiethnicity and cultural diversity is not only the past but the present of Józsefváros, reflected in the streetscape and the lived experience of both residents and visitors.
In addition to teach practical side of the basis of film making, the mission of this summer school is – by using audiovisual materials and methods – to bring to light the social and historical aspects of the everyday experience of a city with a contested memory.
What do we offer?
During the one-week students will get acquainted with some aspects of theory and practice of documentary film making and importantly they can test/use the new skill during the summer school. The main topics covered:
- the theoretical background of film in social sciences
- a brief introduction to “Language of Cinema” (the storytelling, shots, takes (the technical and artistic side) and film editing, music/sound, time/rhythm, colors)
- the practice of production: from planning the project to arriving to the site, from shooting until the premiere.
Students will work in small groups and develop their own project with 5-10 minutes long audiovisual material. The final product will be screened in a public on 2nd September, followed by discussion with audience.
Deadlines
Proposals in English should be submitted by e-mail to 2022spotlight@gmail.com by 15 May 2023. Participants will be notified of the selection results by 25 May 2023.
Eligibility
Masters’ and PhD students from Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Documents to submit
- CV (1 page).
- a motivation letter, explaining what drives the interest of applicant in participating in the summer school, and what does the applicant’s origins mean to him/her (max. 600 words).
Selection criteria
No previous experience in movie production is required. Preference will be given to students who have pursued studies and/or research on ethnic/symbolic boundaries, place attachment and identity, cross-border relations, transculturality and borderland identities and history of border regions.
For selected applicants, the cost of participation (accommodation, boarding and travel grant) will be covered by organisers.