L'antropologia i l'art de les ombres

Abstract

Since its inception, anthropology has been interested in the subject of “shadows”. Thus, different authors have emphasized the fact that in many cultural contexts “shadows” were not conceived as a mere light effect of representative nature, but rather as a double or extension of the person, as a living presence. The notion of “double” is precisely one of the key concepts of cinema, the art of shadows par excellence. This text delves into the multiple intersections between anthropology and film in relation to the study of the shadows. In conclusion, it narrates some of the experiences of shooting process of the ethnographic documentary Chasing Shadows (Roger Canals, 2019).