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2024 – Questioning Society through Image, Film and Sound

The third Social Sciences Winter School in Karachi, jointly organized by the Centre for South Asian and Himalayan Studies in Paris (CESAH, CNRS-EHESS) and the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), will be held in Karachi in November 2024. The theme chosen for 2024 focuses on the utilization of images, film, and sound in social science practice. The image is approached as a concept, practical tool, source, and object of study, aligning with the field of digital humanities and contributing to the evolution of research practices in the social sciences. The Winter School training program for this year emphasizes the diverse methodological tools associated with image and sound. This encompasses the use of still images, such as photography and digital archives, as well as moving images like ethnographic films and cinema documentaries. Sound will also be explored as a specific means of capturing the ‘real’ and apprending society innovatively. These tools will be employed for planning projects of ethnographic and documentary films, and for developping collaborative archives, museography, and heritage projects. Ultimately, the aim is to promote a change of perspective and a reflective approach to observation. Throughout the week, we will engage in discussions regarding  the pratical, ethical and legal considerations of documentary writing, encompassing both images or sound.

Currently, three methodological workshops are being established, each accommodating 15-20 students. These workshops are organized with an international perspective, focusing on French-Pakistani collaboration. They are multidisciplinary with a specific disciplinary focus and involve both experienced researchers and young researchers (at master, doctoral, and post-doctoral levels). Advanced Ph.D. students are also invited to co-organize the workshops and present their work. Apart from theoretical and thematic introductory sessions, field practice and survey method implementation are also included, with half a day to a full day dedicated to these activities.

The Winter School will be organized as follows:

  • [DAY 1] Training in plenary sessions at the beginning of the school: presentations will introduce various thematic and methodological aspects of research and field practices.
  • [DAY 2 to 5] Three methodological and multidisciplinary workshops lasting each four days will address these issues from various cross-cutting perspectives, and will discuss theoretical models, case studies, analytical tools, survey methods, and data collection.
  • [DAY 5] Knowledge-restitution and debate: participants of each workshop will work on a mock research project based on their training and present their findings to receive a training certificate.

Methodological workshops

Students will choose one of the three workshops described below:

Thanks to all the sponsors and partners: