Preaching From Pictures: A Japanese Mandala

David Plath
Preaching From Pictures: A Japanese Mandala
Interactive DVD

Abstract: We released a 37-minute video about this mandala in 2003. The DVD is an attempt to devise an interactive format that widens the usefulness of the program by providing expert on-camera commentaries and background information about the mandala along with a glossary of technical terms used and a gallery of thumbnails with source information for each image inserted in the program or in the commentaries. Also included are lists of printed internet sources for additional reference.

Production Date:
11/01/06

Distributor:
Asian Educational Media Service
805 Pennsylvania Ave.
Urbana II 61801-4822

Phone:
217-265-0640

Email / Website:
aems@uiuc.edu

http://www.aems.uiuc.edu/

Running Time:
120

Medium:
DVD

Film Audience: Secondary and college level courses in anthropology, Asian Art, Asian History, Religious Studies, Asian religions, folk religion, gender studies

Role of the Anthropologist / Collaboration: We were unable to elicit cooperation from the video’s subjects, itinerant nuns of the Kumano sect who have been dead for 400 years. The anthropologists and the DVD’s on-camera commentators are quite alive yet, though some of our students may think otherwise. Our video is based on a program developed by the National Museum of Japanese History, and results form collaborative projects done with them. Plath designed, produced, directed and edited the DVD; Toby recruited the on-camera experts and was host for may sessions; both Plath and Toby collected images, footage and other source materials for the DVD. The on-camera experts did not object to being flown to Urbana at our expense for taping, or to being paid a small honorarium.

Filmmaker/anthropologist: David W. Plath, Illinois-Urbana

Keywords: Visual sermons, Japanese folk religion, Buddhist nuns