Sherry B. Ortner is Distinguished Research Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the author of Not Hollywood: Independent Film at the Twilight of the American Dream, Anthropology and Social Theory: Culture, Power, and the Acting Subject, and New Jersey Dreaming: Capital, Culture, and the Class of ’58, all also published by Duke University Press.
"""[A] fascinating ethnographic study of a nonprofit production company. . . . Ortner provides extensive research on the history of activist documentary filmmaking. The book’s compelling exploration of the documentary Suppressed: The Fight To Vote reveals how it evokes various emotions during a film screening and examines its call to action. Ortner’s deep dive is so effective in describing the film’s storytelling method that it may inspire readers to seek out Suppressed and other Brave New Films works."" -- Anjelica Rufus-Barnes * Library Journal * ""Ortner’s analysis encourages readers to critically assess media accounts and consider the ethical implications of documentary activity. Focusing on bold new films, the book offers valuable insight into the production process, the challenges faced by activist filmmakers, and the strategies they use to effectively convey their message."" -- Kaniphnath Malhari Kudale * Social Identities *"