Resumen de Approaches from Visual Anthropology Applied to Ethnomusicology: "Multivocal Editing" and Musical Action as a Form of Knowledge
In this article, two themes discussed in visual anthropology and in the field of ethnographic film are presented. These might be of appeal to ethnomusicologists with an interest in, or working with, audiovisual media. The first one concerns bodily knowledge and embodied knowledge, which come to the fore in action: for example, through the practice of playing music, making a musical instrument, or music and dance performance. the component of symbolic meaning and the technical component ("set of rules") of an action can both be described in written text. the component of practice, "the doing itself" of an action, and along with it, the dimension of time and the unfolding of processes, however, cannot be represented in this way and remain understudied. By means of audiovisual media, the component of practice can finally be represented, which might contribute to new ethnomusicological research topics and insights. The second theme focuses on feedback sessions with participants of the film, and on responses to the film from other audiences, such as academics or TV professionals. It becomes apparent that when considering the comments and reediting the video or film accordingly, "multivocal editing" can evolve. The question however still remains as to how the filmmaker, by including or excluding the voices, 'controls' these very voices.
