From the field to the screen: reflexivity and collaboration in visual and multimodal contemporary practices

This special section, titled “From the Field to the Screen: Reflexivity and collaboration in Visual and Multimodal Contemporary Practices,” presents a collection of papers that explore the challenges, opportunities, and ethical considerations inherent in reflexive and collaborative practices within ethnographic visual and multimodal research. Drawing from diverse methodologies and approaches, the papers delve into topics such as autobiographical storytelling, virtual reality, sensory experiences, and archival-based filmmaking. Through critical reflections and case studies, the section aims to provoke dialogue and reflection on the complex intersections of reflexivity and collaboration in visual anthropology. It addresses the challenges and pitfalls of producing visual and multimodal ethnographic data beyond film through a multilayered analysis that conveys ethical, aesthetic, and methodological implications. Each paper invites readers to engage with innovative methods and perspectives that complicate research processes—from design to dissemination—contributing to contemporary debates in visual and multimodal anthropology with implications for audiences beyond the discipline.