The Interaction between Visual and Written Ethnography in Subtitling

Abstract

This article explores how subtitles are applied in ethnographic film editing. Based upon doctoral research and accompanying films, I will illustrate how the key ideas in the writing could be re-addressed and re-interpreted in the films through certain ways of subtitling. I argue that appropriate subtitling not only presents the individuality of the subjects directly, but also allows the filmmaker to pronounce his/her own voice indirectly, which responds to as well as differs from written anthropology.