Visually representing the venerable and vulnerable

For the past week I've been thinking about how to best visually represent the elderly people with whom I am working. I'm not familiar with them, as I came to England on a whim not knowing many people, but establishing rapport has not been difficult. I've found that the people I'm filming/interviewing are more then willing to both give information and be on camera. Getting release forms signed has not been a problem at all. In fact, my find the forms both "silly" and funny. Be that as it may.

My readings for this week (selections from the Visual Culture Reader and the essay "Up the Anthro" by Nader) reminded me that the burden of figuring out methodology and representation sits upon my shoulders. It sounds obvious I know, but I've found that I (and many colleagues and classmates) tend to shoot/film first and ask questions later. For this project, however, I am really trying to allow the theory to influence my project. I've done other projects (The Day Labor Cup) where we went in with a knowledge of theory but shot cinema verite style. Obviously the theory and our readings had influence on these past projects, but they were shot first and (actually) theorized later. We asked ourselves, post-filming, what were we trying to achieve/what did we achieve? For this project, represented here on The Descent, I want to make it clear that I am reversing this order.

I plan on including myself in my work with the elderly. I believe that this reflexivity is importance. I would, however, prefer for my theorizing to show in my footage rather than be told overtly-- other than here in this disclaimer.

In reality, I write this entry on this blog for myself. It serves as a reminder among other things. Last night I was speaking to my Grandmother and she said (referring to one of the people I am working with) , "X is a very vulnerable man." I mistook "vulnerable" for "venerable"- hence the name of this post. Both words apply to subject X but it is the former which concerns me here. These people, along with myself, are to be subjects in a film. They are also, however, people with whom I am building relationships- whether this is intended or not. Many are well over 70 and live solitary and often lonely lives. Our chats, I have been told now more then once, are the highlight of their week. I must represent them justly, but also- I think-honestly.