Screening and Introduction of the film Tama Gaun: The Copper Village
Our concepts and ways of seeing the world are being challenged by the Ontological Turn. Is anthropological filmmaking the answer?
Hovedinnhold
The Department of Social Anthropology at the University of Bergen is happy to announce the upcoming seminar of our Spring 2015 Department Seminars with Frode Storaas (University Museum of Bergen)
In Okharbot village of Western Nepal a few persons still know the age-old traditional practise of mining, smelting and casting of copper. The copper has a number of symbolic meanings and economic aspects connected to exchange and healing properties, as well as being the Hindu god Shiva.
The complex caste system of Nepal, although abolished, still structures the lives of most people. The untouchable smiths, the Kami, produce one of the purest metals in Hindu cosmology.
The film follows Ujir, the foreman, who guides the steps of the mining and smelting. During the smelting work the festival of Dassain. The festival is part of the social and cultural context of the traditional smelting process of copper shown in the film.
All interested are welcome!