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Child's Eye, The (ATOM Study Guide)

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Synopsis

The Child’s Eye is the result of a five-year project that encouraged Indian children to explore their surroundings using video cameras. In six workshops held in different locations across India, they became active collaborators in creating knew knowledge, often on subjects they knew better than adults. Their films give an intimate view of modern Indian life, seen as only children could see it from their unique position in Indian society. Made in an observational style, without spoken commentary, the films are remarkable for their sense of intimacy and the details they give of life in Indian communities today.

The project, conducted by ethnographic filmmaker David MacDougall, held workshops lasting from six to twelve weeks and involved children from ten to thirteen years old. They came from a variety of class and religious backgrounds, in both rural and urban settings, from New Delhi to Rajasthan, Kokata to Ladakh.

Organised as research projects, the workshops asked children to choose topics they considered important in their own families and communities. After several weeks of basic instruction in using video cameras, they began using them to explore their chosen topics, producing twenty-four films from which the twelve on this DVD were selected. The workshops gave the children a chance to investigate subjects that are often known only from an adult perspective, a challenge they embraced with enthusiasm. Their films attest to the competence and sophistication children can achieve as filmmakers when offered the opportunity.

Curriculum links

The Child’s Eye is suitable viewing for students in upper primary classes and secondary students at all levels.

The selected films constitute a unique resource for teachers to explore the society, culture and technology of modern India. The fact that they were all made by children aged from ten to thirteen years, and reflect children’s perspectives, gives them a special advantage in exciting the curiosity of Australian children about another country.

These 12 films, and the project as a whole, can serve as a useful model for Australian schoolchildren who may be inspired to make their own films about significant aspects of their lives.

In Years 5–10, the films are suitable for study in the following learning areas:

English
HASS
Science
The Arts

The films can also be used to teach the general capability of Intercultural Understanding and the cross curriculum priority of Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia in the subjects listed above.

In the Australian Curriculum students develop intercultural understanding as they learn to value other cultures, languages and beliefs as well as their own. They come to understand how personal, group and national identities are shaped, and the variety and changing nature of human societies. These insights help students to engage with diverse cultures and, in recognising commonalities and differences, to make connections with others and achieve mutual respect. Approaches to integrating the general capability of Intercultural Understanding across the curriculum can be accessed at https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/general-capabilities/intercultural-understanding/.

In the Australian Curriculum students develop knowledge and understanding of Asian countries, cultures, beliefs and the connections between Asia, Australia and the rest of the world. Asia literacy gives students the skills to engage and communicate with others in the region and to live, work and learn effectively in Asian countries. This involves recognising the diversity of countries in the Asian region through knowledge of their traditions and diverse environments, and how these affect the lives of different peoples. Details about integrating the priority of Australia’s engagement with Asia across the curriculum can be accessed at https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/cross-curriculum-priorities/asia-and-australia-s-engagement-with-asia/.

In Years 11 and 12, the films are suitable for study in the following subjects: