Screening Social Justice: Brave New Films and Documentary Activism

Screening Social Justice by anthropologist Sherry B. Ortner ’62 presents an ethnographic study of Brave New Films, a nonprofit film production company that makes documentaries intended to mobilize progressive grassroots activism.

Caty Borum Chattoo, author of Story Movements: How Documentaries Empower People and Inspire Social Change wrote: “Written in a clear and evocative style, Screening Social Justice is a welcome addition to the canon of documentary works that address contemporary social justice work in the digital media age. Brave New Films was pathbreaking in utilizing the internet’s mobilizing potential and absolutely deserves the rigorous attention it receives in this important book.”

Faye Ginsburg, David B. Kriser Professor of Anthropology, noted that “this book is a valuable study of political agency in contemporary media making. Its timely relevance grows every day.” (Duke University Press, 2023)