Brian C. Smithson, assistant professor of anthropology, recently published his research in "American Ethnologist." Smithson's article, “'The world hates the truth': Moral artifice in Beninese moviemaking," explores how Beninese moviemakers convey moral truths and portray Indigenous religions in respectful manners. Smithson contrasts this approach with that of Pentecostal moviemakers in Benin's neighbor, Nigeria, who often portray Indigenous religions as deceptive.
Smithson describes for readers his role in this work as both researcher and participant, student and actor. His careful analysis of one movie's process of creation and the final product reveals how Beninese moviemakers "push back" on stereotypes of Africa and African religion, using "artifice" to reveal cultural and moral truths.
"American Ethnologist" is an international journal of social and cultural anthropology. The prestigious journal’s articles combine ethnographic specificity with original theoretical thinking, conveying the relevance of the ethnographic imagination to the contemporary world.
