Project Idea

As an anthropology graduate student taking this course I will be attempting to incorporate my future research into the curriculum for this course. My ultimate goal is to be able to produce some form of video from start to finish while doing my field research in Guatemala. Last winter I had the pleasure of visiting the Q'eqchi' Maya village Plan Grande Quehueche which is situated behind the port city of Livingston, Guatemala. The community has come together to establish a sustainable tourism business which involves explanatory guided hikes through the local areas (jungles, coast, caves, etc). The tour ends in their village where visitors are welcome to stay in the several cabanas they have constructed, have dinner, and partake in a traditional Maya ceremony involving marimba music and dancing. The experience and services provided is amazing and deserves recognition and promotion. There seems to be a lack in promotion for their service, so this is where I may be able to contribute.

This Media Arts class is designed to create a media project with an Internet presence. I feel that this is a perfect opportunity for me to experience the needed steps to create a promotional Internet presence for the community business in Plan Grande Quehueche. I feel the most appropriate way to execute this goal is to utilize the resources I will have available during my stay in Guatemala. I have an Olympus Stylus Tough handheld camera which also shoots video. I have decided to use this as my camera due to its inconspicuous nature and also because it is shock resistance and waterproof. I will also be using basic editing software which I will have available to me on a small portable laptop. I am debating on using Windows MovieMaker or iMovie for my iPad, but bringing the iPad to Guatemala may not be an option.

Since this class will be preparing me for my experience abroad I am documenting a local nature preserve (Saluda Shoals) and activities available there. I will create a mock promotional video using the tools I will have available while in Guatemala (Olympus camera, laptop editing software, etc). I have already filmed a kayak trip and will be taking photos and videos throughout the park to be able to create this promotional video by the Spring Break deadline. This exercise will hopefully enable me to complete a similar film while conducting my field research.