Paper short abstract:

Anthropology's demands “clean” narratives devoid of emotion, thus pressuring researchers to adopt patriarchal rationality. Reflecting on my work on violent images from Mexico and the Arab world, I advocate for a feminist approach to images that embraces sensory ethnography and political engagement.

Paper long abstract:

The very existence of anthropology is deeply intertwined with the politics of representing the “Other” in all their complexities. However, the same unveiling should not concern the narrator and dominant patriarchal discourses within our discipline insist that our narratives must be “clean” (Blackman 2007), that is devoid of emotions. This expectation implicitly suggests that women, in particular, should adopt a stance of male rationality, conforming to patriarchal ideals of objectivity and rationality in professional practices. In my contribution to this conversation, I reflect on my work examining the impact of violent imagery in Mexico and the Western representation of the Arab world the beginnig of this centurt, and its reception within the academia. I will critically assess the demands for neutrality—essentially “cleanliness” as opposed to the messiness of emotions—of our field, to articulate my refusal to conform to such expectations. Analyzing images from my ethnographic research, I consider how a feminist approach to image-making that recognizes our emotional realities as researchers and filmmakers can foster social activism, a culture of care, and a greater ability to reach broader audiences.