SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Visual Anthropology Review promotes the discussion of visual studies, broadly conceived.
Within its breadth, visual anthropology includes both the study of visual aspects of cultural lives and experience, and the use of visual techniques and technologies in anthropological research, representation and teaching.
Materials published in VAR highlight innovative forms of ethnographic production and anthropological practice that explore the potentialities of sensory scholarship.
We regularly publish articles, reviews, and commentary on the use of multimedia, still photography, film, video, and non-camera generated images as well as on visual ideologies, Indigenous media, applied anthropology, graphic novels, art practice, design, dance, architecture, and material culture. We welcome submissions that rethink the meaning of cultural and theoretical visualization.
VAR publishes original work in a range of formats, both peer- and editor-reviewed. Scroll or click the buttons below for detailed guidelines on how to prepare your submission for each format.
TYPES OF SUBMISSIONS
All submissions must be made through ScholarOne. All listed word counts are maximums, inclusive of notes and bibliographies.
PEER-REVIEWED
7000 words, images encouraged
must include anchor image
8–10 images & 1500 words
image-driven essays with brief accompanying text
must include proposed layout
curated collections of 3–5 concise original research articles, 3000–5000 words/each (peer-reviewed) and 1000-word introduction by the guest editor(s)/editorial collectives (editor-reviewed)
EDITOR-REVIEWED
1500 words for single reviews of books, films, electronic media, or exhibitions
must include thumbnail image
6000 words for combined first-person interviews and critical commentary on books, films, exhibitions, visual anthropology programs, and/or other happenings related to visual anthropology
1000 words introducing 5–7 thematically-connected articles from past issues of VAR
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLES
PEER-REVIEWED
7000 words and images encouraged, must include an anchor image
The journal is designed so that each original research article opens with a single, full-color figure (anchor image) that relates to the article's main argument, content, and/or discussion and provides a visual point of entry to the article.
VAR publishes both color and black and white images at the discretion of the editors. All color images will appear in color in the online version.
We encourage authors to include and integrate multiple figures—whether photographs, drawings, film stills, or screen grabs—in their submissions. All figures should advance the article’s argument and be directly discussed in the text. We also encourage authors to submit experimental work that pushes the boundaries of the field and advances the leading edge of visual anthropology specifically and visual studies more broadly.
For ancillary images and multimedia files, we encourage authors to develop an online supplement for their article.
Submission Portal
Please submit all materials through ScholarOne. It is important to note that all revisions, re-submissions, and communication with authors about their manuscript are facilitated through ScholarOne. Authors are encouraged to check spam/junk folders for filtered emails from Wiley, ScholarOne, and the editors.
Required Components for Initial Submissions
All original research article submissions must include:
Title Page. This document is not for peer-review and should include the following:
Author Information Include your name, affiliation, and email. In the case of multiple authors, be sure to identify who the corresponding author will be by using an asterisk (*).
Article Title We encourage authors to include important keywords (ideally within the first 65 characters) and to keep titles short to enhance their discoverability. For tips, consult Wiley Author Services.
Short Title (4–5 words) This will be used as the running header.
Abstract (<100 words) Describe essential findings and keywords in the first two sentences. Avoid parenthetical citations in your abstract.
Keywords (5) Each article should have 5 keywords. These are critical terms that summarize highlights, themes, and content from your article. We encourage authors to repeat important keywords in the title, abstract, and article headings.
Author Bio (<50 words) If including current institutional affiliation, education, positions held, and/or relevant publication, please describe in narrative form rather than parenthetically.
Manuscript anonymized for review. (7000 words, including notes and bibliography, follow VAR Style Guide) Upload this as the “Main Document” in ScholarOne. Remove all references to yourself (and any co-authors) in your manuscript. You may list self-citations as Author (YEAR) in text and Author, YEAR in the references, but do not include any identifying bibliographic details in your references. Double-check that you have turned off track-changes and removed any other identifying information from your document’s metadata. All figures must be referenced in your text [e.g. (Figure 1)], but they should not be embedded within it. You should indicate each figure’s approximate placement by writing [Figure X about here] at relevant places in the text. Do not include captions in your manuscript file, as these do not count against your word limit.
Image Files anonymized for review. Upload each image as separate “Figure” files in ScholarOne. Label each with the the figure number that corresponds to the text (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2). These images must be at least 300 dpi and in .jpg or .tiff format. It is not necessary to enter the caption text with the file upload. Please append a caption list instead.
Caption List & Alt Text anonymized for review. Upload a complete caption list as an “Additional File for Review but NOT Publication” in ScholarOne. Ensure that the captions match each figure exactly. Include image credits in your captions (however, if they are created by the submitting author(s) please anonymize). Indicate which figure should be the anchor image by marking it with three asterisks (***). In addition to captions, authors are responsible for providing alt text (alternative text) for all figures. Alt text describes the content of the image in less than 125 characters for individuals unable to view the image. In some cases, the alt text may be very similar to the caption. Please see best practices for writing alt text in the VAR Style Guide. Captions and alt text should follow this format:
FIGURE #. Name of Maker, Title, Location, YEAR. Photo by First NAME Last NAME. [ALT TEXT: 125 character description] Example: Figure 7. Kabusha Radio Remix installation, Paris, 2016. Photo by Kwame Phillips. [person sitting at desk wearing glasses looking at archival letters with stereo and headphones on desk]
FIGURE #. Name of Maker, Title, Location, YEAR (optional if not included in descriptive title). Image courtesy of [Source/Name]. Example: Figure 4. Zanele Muholi, Sebenzile, Parktown, 2016. Image courtesy of Stevenson Gallery. [the artist Zanele Muholi’s upper body and head are draped in tubes from a washing machine and the tubes circle above their head forming a contemporary halo]
FIGURE #. Descriptive Summary of the Image. Photo by First NAME Last NAME, YEAR. Example: Figure 9. Screenshot from Sent Away Boys. Harjant Gill, 2016. [individual sitting on a cot in a courtyard]
FIGURE #. Description of the scene in the screen capture. Screenshot from Name of Film. Image Courtesy of [Source/Name]. Example: Figure 7. Unidentified woman of the Musk-Ox, her facial expression demonstrating recognition of the camera, Malerisiorfik. Frame grab from Med Hundeslæde gennem Alaska, 1927. [unidentified person of the Musk-Ox, their facial expression demonstrating recognition of the camera]
If you have videos or links to media you can include it in this document. If the links lead to password-protected sites, please ensure the password is current and included in this document. Also remove any identifying information about the author from these sites.
Review Process & Decision Timeline
Each submission will be reviewed first by the journal editors, and if appropriate for the journal’s aims and scope, sent to at least two peer reviewers. Authors are encouraged to suggest potential reviewers in their submission, but invitations are at the editors’ discretion. Our aim is to complete this process and render an editorial decision (Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, Reject) within 8–10 weeks of the initial submission. However, due to increased workloads of peer reviewers, this timeline is not guaranteed.
Revised Submissions
Authors who receive Major Revisions or Minor Revisions decisions are encouraged to resubmit their manuscripts within three months for full consideration. While we endeavor to secure the same peer reviewers for revised manuscripts, this is not always possible. When submitting a revised manuscript, authors should include: (1) a detailed Revision Memo in the Cover Letter or Author Response field of ScholarOne, (2) a clean, revised .doc or .docx version of their manuscript in the Main Document field, and (3) an anonymized Track-Changes version of their manuscript to indicate where they made edits as an “Additional File NOT for Review and NOT for Publication.”
Accepted Manuscripts
Once a manuscript is accepted, authors will work with the co-editors on initial copyediting, including editing for length, via First Look in ScholarOne. Final revisions must conform to the VAR Style Guide or they will be returned. The co-editors may enlist an external copyeditor for an additional level of review. Authors will receive e-proofs from the publisher along with queries and corrections approximately six weeks before the issue is published. They should take this opportunity to carefully proof their article as this will be their last chance to make any changes, although no major rewriting will be allowed at this point. Both copyediting and proofreading must be completed in a timely manner to meet publication deadlines. Prior to publication, the author must complete the Author Agreement Form, which will be sent to the author directly via email from the publisher (Wiley-Blackwell).
Preparing Figures for Publication
Figures that are copyrighted must be accompanied by written permission for the journal to reprint them, granted directly by the copyright holder. VAR recommends that if such permission is required, authors begin the process as early as possible (ideally with the initial submission of the article to the journal). To that end, authors will be asked to complete a Visual Permissions Form. Please note, VAR does not have a standing budget for image licensing. Authors are responsible for any fees and securing any licenses.
Images for publication must be at least 300 dpi and uploaded in either .tiff or .jpg formats. Please do not compress images for publication! A typical image with the required specifications has a size of about 1.2 megabytes. Images that are not sufficient for publication will be returned to the author with a request to resize or replace. Name digital image files “Figure 1.” “Figure 2.” etc. Do not include lengthy descriptions in the figure name as this may cause confusion in the layout stage. All figures must also include alt text that describes the content of the image in less than 125 characters for individuals unable to view the image.
Supplements Once your manuscript is in production, you will be invited to provide additional materials (images, videos, links to relevant news articles, etc.) for an online supplement to your work. This is a space in which we feature dynamic, multimedia, and pedagogical content that extends the impact of your work. Authors will work directly with the VAR editorial assistant on these. See recent examples here.
THE PAGE FEATURES
PEER-REVIEWED
8–10 images and 1500 words for image-centered, design-based projects with brief accompanying text, must include proposed layout
The Page is a dynamic space in VAR where authors are encouraged to submit a range of visual and image-centered work (e.g., photo essays, pictorial works, drawings, mapping, graphic narratives, etc.) that are designed specifically for the journal’s pages. As section initiators and former VAR editors Jenny Chio and Rupert Cox describe it: “By paying close attention to the relational analytics of image and text selection, placement, and layout in the two-dimensional space of the journal page, we hope to insert a more critical perspective on the potential of visual work in ethnographic knowledge production” (2016, 101).
All submissions must be the author’s original work.
Submission Portal
Please submit all materials through ScholarOne. It is important to note that all revisions, re-submissions, and communication with authors about their manuscript are facilitated through ScholarOne. Authors are encouraged to check spam/junk folders for filtered emails from Wiley, ScholarOne, and the editors.
Required Components for Initial Submissions
All The Page feature submissions must include:
Title Page. This document is not for peer-review and should include the following:
Author Information Include your name, affiliation, and email. In the case of multiple authors, be sure to identify who the corresponding author will be by using an asterisk (*).
Article Title We encourage authors to include important keywords (ideally within the first 65 characters) and to keep titles short to enhance their discoverability. For tips, consult Wiley Author Services.
Short Title (4–5 words) This will be used as the running header.
Abstract (<100 words) Describe essential findings and keywords in the first two sentences. Avoid parenthetical citations in your abstract.
Keywords (5) Each article should have 5 keywords. These are critical terms that summarize highlights, themes, and content from your article. We encourage authors to repeat important keywords in the title, abstract, and article headings.
Author Bio (<50 words) If including current institutional affiliation, education, positions held, and/or relevant publication, please describe in narrative form rather than parenthetically.
Manuscript anonymized for review. (1500 words, including notes and bibliography, follow VAR Style Guide) While the image-driven component of your submission should be the main feature, please upload your short accompanying text as the “Main Document” in ScholarOne. Remove all references to yourself (and any co-authors) in your manuscript. You may list self-citations as Author (YEAR) in text and Author, YEAR in the references, but do not include any identifying bibliographic details in your references. Double-check that you have turned off track-changes and removed any other identifying information from your document’s metadata. Unlike original research articles, it is not necessary to reference specific figures in the body of your text. Do not include figures or captions in your manuscript file. Attach these separately and together in your proposed layout.
Proposed Layout anonymized for review. (8–10 images) Sketch how you would like your submission to appear in print, including both image and caption placement, and if you would prefer to have your accompanying text run before, after, or alongside the images. VAR’s newly redesigned format is 6”x9.” Our regular articles have 3.5” wide text blocks set 2” from the page’s edge, 1.25” from the top and bottom, and with 0.5” gutter. The Page features can break this grid or work within it. We are able to print full-bleed images and to print in color. Please see VAR 36.1 for the new journal format.
Image Files anonymized for review. Upload each image as separate “Figure” files in ScholarOne. Label each with a figure number. Unlike original research articles, you do not need to reference each figure in your text. All images must be at least 300 dpi and in .jpg or .tiff format. It is not necessary to enter the caption text with the file upload. Please append a caption list instead.
Caption List & Alt Text anonymized for review. Upload a complete caption list as an “Additional File for Review but NOT Publication” in ScholarOne. Ensure that the captions match each figure exactly. Include image credits in your captions but anonymize any information about yourself. In addition to captions, authors are responsible for providing alt text (alternative text) for all figures. Alt text describes the content of the image in less than 125 characters for individuals unable to view the image. Captions and alt text should follow this format:
FIGURE #. Name of Maker, Title, Location, YEAR. Photo by First NAME Last NAME. [ALT TEXT: 125 character description] Example: Figure 7. Kabusha Radio Remix installation, Paris, 2016. Photo by Kwame Phillips. [person sitting at desk wearing glasses looking at archival letters with stereo and headphones on desk]
FIGURE #. Name of Maker, Title, Location, YEAR (optional if not included in descriptive title). Image courtesy of [Source/Name]. Example: Figure 4. Zanele Muholi, Sebenzile, Parktown, 2016. Image courtesy of Stevenson Gallery. [the artist Zanele Muholi’s upper body and head are draped in tubes from a washing machine and the tubes circle above their head forming a contemporary halo]
FIGURE #. Descriptive Summary of the Image. Photo by First NAME Last NAME, YEAR. Example. Figure 9. Screenshot from Sent Away Boys. Harjant Gill, 2016. [individual sitting on a cot in a courtyard]
FIGURE #. Description of the scene in the screen capture. Screenshot from Name of Film. Image Courtesy of [Source/Name]. Example: Figure 7. Unidentified woman of the Musk-Ox, her facial expression demonstrating recognition of the camera, Malerisiorfik. Frame grab from Med Hundeslæde gennem Alaska, 1927. [unidentified person of the Musk-Ox, their facial expression demonstrating recognition of the camera]
If you have videos or links to media you can include it in this document. If the links lead to password protected sites, please ensure the password is current and included in this document.
Review Process & Decision Timeline
Each submission will be reviewed first by the journal editors, and if appropriate for the journal’s aims and scope, sent out for at least two peer reviews. Our aim is to complete this process and render an editorial decision (Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, Reject) within 8–10 weeks of the initial submission. However, due to increased workloads of peer reviewers, this timeline is not always guaranteed.
Revised Submissions
Authors who receive Major Revisions or Minor Revisions decisions are encouraged to resubmit their manuscripts within three months for full consideration. We endeavor to secure the same peer reviewers for revised manuscripts, but this is not always possible. When submitting a revised manuscript, authors should include a detailed Revision Memo in the Cover Letter or Author Response field of ScholarOne and attach a anonymized Track-Changes version of their manuscript to indicate where they made edits as an “Additional File NOT for Review and NOT for Publication.”
Accepted Manuscripts
Once a manuscript is accepted, authors will work with the co-editors on final copyediting via First Look in ScholarOne. Final revisions must conform to VAR Style or they will be returned. The co-editors may enlist an external copyeditor for an additional level of review. Authors will receive e-proofs from the publisher along with queries and corrections approximately six weeks before the issue goes to print. They should take this opportunity to carefully proof their article as this will be their last chance to make any changes. Both copyediting and proofreading must be completed in a timely manner to meet publication deadlines. Prior to publication, the author must complete the Author Agreement Form, which will be sent to the author directly via email from the publisher (Wiley-Blackwell).
Preparing Figures for Publication
Figures that are copyrighted must be accompanied by written permission for the journal to reprint them, granted directly by the copyright holder. VAR recommends that if such permission is required, authors begin the process as early as possible (ideally with the initial submission of the article to the journal). To that end, authors will be asked to complete a Visual Permissions Form. Please note, VAR does not have a standing budget for image licensing. Authors are responsible for any fees and securing any licenses.
Images for publication must be at least 300 dpi and uploaded in either .tiff or .jpg formats. Please do not compress images for publication! A typical image with the required specifications has a size of about 1.2 megabytes. Images that are not sufficient for publication will be returned to the author with a request to resize or replace. Name digital image files “Figure 1.” “Figure 2.” etc. Do not include lengthy descriptions in the figure name as this may cause confusion in the layout stage.
Supplements Once your manuscript is in production, you will be invited to provide additional materials (images, videos, links to relevant news articles, etc.) for an online supplement to your work. This is a space in which we feature dynamic, multimedia, and pedagogical content that extends the impact of your work. Authors will work directly with the VAR editorial assistant on these. See recent examples here.
SPECIAL SECTIONS
PEER-REVIEWED
curated collections of 3–5 concise, original research articles, each 3000–5000 and an introduction by the guest editor(s)/editorial collectives of no more than 1000 words
must include plan for online supplement
Special Sections are proposed by a guest editor (or editorial team/collective) and consist of an introduction that frames the special section along with shorter, more concise sets of 3–5 essays (each essay is approximately 3000–5000 words (including notes and bibliography). Special sections are encouraged to be inclusive and represent a range of voices, experiences, and arguments.
Submission Portal
Please submit all materials through ScholarOne. It is important to note that all revisions, re-submissions, and communication with authors about their manuscript are facilitated through ScholarOne. Authors are encouraged to check spam/junk folders for filtered emails from Wiley, ScholarOne, and the editors.
Required Components for Special Sections
All Special Section submissions must include:
Title Page. This document is not for peer-review and should include the following:
Editor Information Include the name, affiliation, and email of the guest editor. In the case of multiple editors, be sure to identify who the corresponding editor will be.
Special Section Title We encourage editors to include important keywords (ideally within the first 65 characters) and to keep titles short to enhance their discoverability. For tips, consult Wiley Author Services.
Short Title (4–5 words) This will be used as the running header.
Abstract (<100 words) Describe essential findings and keywords in the first two sentences. Avoid parenthetical citations in your abstract.
Keywords (5 words). These are critical terms that summarize highlights, themes, and content from the special section. We encourage editors to repeat important keywords in the title, abstract, and article headings.
Editor Bio(s) (<50 words) If including current institutional affiliation, education, positions held, and/or relevant publication for each editor, please describe in narrative form rather than parenthetical.
Special Section Proposal. (1000 words, including notes and bibliography, follow VAR Style Guide) Upload this as the “Main Document” in ScholarOne. The proposal needs to clearly articulate what the thematic focus of the special section is, why it matters to visual anthropology, and any relevant information about what brought these authors together (e.g., a call for contributors, a workshop, a conference, funding source, a working group, a creative collective, etc.). It is advised that manuscripts that will be proposed in the Special Section are already under preparation and nearing completion. This will ensure the special section editor can be as accurate as possible regarding content and scope of the special section. They also should list the 3–5 proposed manuscripts/contributions, including the author(s) names, institutional affiliations, working titles, and estimated word length within the 3000–5000 word range.
Review Process & Decision Timeline
Once the proposal is received through ScholarOne, it will be reviewed by the co-editors who will render a decision (Accept, Reject) typically within three weeks. If they agree to move forward with a proposed special section, a series of actions must follow for both the special section editors and proposed contributing authors. As with special issues published by VAR in the past, all manuscripts in special sections will go through the peer-review process (with the exception of the introduction). With this process, there is always the possibility that an essay proposed for the special section may not pass peer review and would need to be omitted.
Responsibilities of Special Section Editor. Special section editors are responsible for all preliminary edits of contributing authors’ manuscripts prior to submission to ScholarOne. Special section editors should make certain that all manuscripts conform to VAR Style and are within the length limits. Moreover, they should ensure that the collection works together as a set to elucidate the section theme clearly. We encourage guest editors to communicate the following to authors: (1) being part of a special section submission does not guarantee publication; (2) timelines to publication are dependent on all manuscripts moving through the peer review process, which can vary across manuscripts (e.g., some may require multiple rounds of revision); and (3) while unlikely, if fewer than three manuscripts pass peer review, the special section will not move forward.
Responsibilities Special Section Authors. Contributing authors are responsible for submitting their manuscripts to ScholarOne, and should follow the instructions listed for Original Research Articles (see above). During submission they will have an opportunity to indicate that their manuscript is part of a special section and to name the special section editor and title. Authors are encouraged to share editorial feedback they receive in the peer review process with special section editors, but do so at their own discretion and direction. Authors should also understand that being part of a special section submission does not guarantee publication. All manuscripts must pass peer review. Any communication about deadlines and/or extensions for revisions should come from the VAR Editorial Office, not from the special issue editors.
N.B. Special section editors are not a formal part of the VAR peer-review process (i.e., they will not be copied on readers’ reports and editorial decisions). Once an author has submitted their work to ScholarOne, all communication regarding an author’s submission is strictly between the author(s) and the VAR co-editors. It is the authors responsibility to communicate information regarding the status of their work with the special section editor. The VAR co-editors will only communicate with the special section editor once final decisions have been made for each manuscript submitted that was proposed to be part of the special section in order to make decisions about any possible next stages of the publication process.
Special Section Introduction
VAR editors will notify the special section editor once they have rendered final decisions on all of the proposed manuscripts/contributions and ask them to submit a 2500–3000 word introduction as a revision to their original submission in ScholarOne, typically within 3 weeks. The introduction is editor-reviewed only. While special section editors can reference the initial initial idea, panel, conference, or conveners that led to the special section, the introduction should not be autobiographical in nature. Rather, the primary goal of the introduction is to place the special section theme in broader conversations and literatures of visual anthropology. Special section editors should briefly summarize and connect the collected papers and ensure that their manuscript conforms to VAR Style. (See Bodies of Archives / Archival Bodies: An Introduction from VAR 36.1 as an example.)
Accepted Manuscripts Once a manuscript is accepted, authors will work with the editors on final copyediting via First Look in ScholarOne. Final revisions must conform to VAR Style or they will be returned. The editors may enlist an external copyeditor for an additional level of review. Authors will receive e-proofs from the publisher along with queries and corrections approximately six weeks before the issue goes to print. They should take this opportunity to carefully proof their article as this will be their last chance to make any changes. Both copyediting and proofreading must be completed in a timely manner to meet publication deadlines. Prior to publication, the author must complete the Author Agreement Form, which will be sent to the author directly via email from the publisher (Wiley-Blackwell).
Supplements Once your manuscript is in production, you will be invited to provide additional materials (images, videos, links to relevant news articles, etc.) for an online supplement to your work. This is a space in which we feature dynamic, multimedia, and pedagogical content that extends the impact of your work. Authors will work directly with the VAR editorial assistant on these. See recent examples here.
REVIEWS
EDITOR-REVIEWED
1500 words for single reviews of books, films, electronic media, or exhibitions, must include thumbnail image
Book, film, exhibition, and electronic media reviews may be solicited directly by the review editors or suggested by potential reviewers.
At the moment, VAR is actively seeking ways of documenting and reviewing scholarship in progress, such as pedagogical experiments, visual ethnography labs, gaming platforms, filmmaker residencies, COVID-19 distanced exhibition media, and other ephemera relevant to visual anthropology.
If you are suggesting a review, please send a short proposal introducing your idea and yourself to the relevant editor (below) before submitting completed essays. VAR also publishes multi-book, film, installation, and other multi-media review formats and forms of criticism, including transcribed dialogues between anthropologists, artists, and filmmakers (see DIALOGUE submission guidelines). Proposals for experimental writing, including collaborative and hybrid virtual review forms, are also welcome. Note: if your review idea overlaps between texts, installations, and new media, please copy all relevant section editors on your proposals.
For Publishers/Distributors: Please send review copies of films or books directly to the respective editors at our institutional addresses below:
Film & Exhibition Review Editor
Eugenia Kisin
New York University
Gallatin School of Individualized Study
1 Washington Place, Rm 516
New York, NY 10003
eugenia.kisin@nyu.edu
Book & Electronic Media Review Editor
Natalie Underberg-Goode
University of Central Florida
Nicholson School of Communication & Media
12461 Research Parkway, Suite 500, Room 130 Orlando, FL 32826
Natalie.Underberg-Goode@ucf.edu
Submission Portal
After your initial proposal has been accepted by the correct editor, please submit all materials through ScholarOne. It is important to note that all revisions, re-submissions, and communication with authors about their manuscript are facilitated through ScholarOne. Authors are encouraged to check spam/junk folders for filtered emails from Wiley, ScholarOne, and the editors.
Deadline & Length
Reviews are due on ScholarOne eight weeks after the editor’s acceptance of the proposal, unless otherwise agreed. Your review should be 1000-1500 words.
Content
Your article is a descriptive engagement with the material under review that would help someone unfamiliar with the book, film, exhibition, or electronic work decide how they might use it in their teaching and/or research. It should include a summary of the thing you are reviewing, as well as a discussion of how it engages with visual anthropology discourse, debate, and literature—in other words, why your chosen work matters to the field, and how it could be used in the classroom (or not). As criticism, your review should offer your evaluation of the work, as well as discussion of medium-specific and “off-screen” concerns where appropriate. For example, how do exhibition technologies and materials shape its narrative? How does a video’s circulation contribute to its meaning? How does an interactive game’s affordances enhance the teaching of visual anthropology in the classroom? Overall, why does this work of visual anthropology take the form that it does?
Formatting Your Review
Books. Title in bold. On a new line list the author or editor, the place of publication, the press and the date, followed by a period. On a new line list your name in italics and your affiliation on the next line. For example:
Images and Empires: Visuality in Colonial and Postcolonial Africa
Edited by Paul S. Landau and Deborah D. Kaspin, Berkeley and London: University of California Press, 2002.
Jude G. Akudinobi
University of California, Santa Barbara
Films. Title in bold. On a new line list the film’s director, the year it was made, its length, its distributor and the distributor’s contact information, followed by a period. On a new line list your name in italics and your affiliation on the next line. For example:
In the Name of Love: Modern Day Mail Order Brides Directed by Shannon O’Rourke, 2002, 58 minutes, color. Distributed by New Day Films, www.newday.com.
Sheila R. Tully
San Francisco State University
Exhibitions. Title for review in bold, which should include the full exhibition title in italics OR exhibition title in bold. On a new line list the curator, other relevant artists/makers, the dates of its run, its physical location, and URL (if any), followed by a period. On a new line list your name in italics and affiliation on the next line. For example:
White Walls, “Black City: Reflections on Exhibition as Residency - Art, Anthropology, Collaboration
Curated by Craig Campbell, Kate Hennessy, Fiona P. McDonald, Thomas Ross Miller, Trudi Lynn Smith, and Stephanie Takagarawa (Ethnographic Terminalia), November 18-22, 2013, Arts Incubator, University of Chicago, Chicago IL.
Monique Scott
Columbia University
Electronic Media. Title in bold. On a new line list the work’s author, the year it was made, distributor/publisher/producer (as appropriate), and distributor’s contact information. On a new line list your name in italics and your affiliation on the next line. For example:
Philaplace (http://www.philaplace.org)
Created and Directed by Joan Saverino, 2009, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, accessed April 13, 2020.
Gary Mills
University of the Ozarks
Accepted Manuscripts Once a manuscript is accepted, authors will work with the editors on final copyediting via First Look in ScholarOne. Final revisions must conform to VAR Style or they will be returned. The editors may enlist an external copyeditor for an additional level of review. Authors will receive e-proofs from the publisher along with queries and corrections approximately six weeks before the issue goes to print. They should take this opportunity to carefully proof their article as this will be their last chance to make any changes. Both copyediting and proofreading must be completed in a timely manner to meet publication deadlines. Prior to publication, the author must complete the Author Agreement Form, which will be sent to the author directly via email from the publisher (Wiley-Blackwell).
Supplements Once your manuscript is in production, you will be invited to provide additional materials (images, videos, links to relevant news articles, etc.) for an online supplement to your work. This is a space in which we feature dynamic, multimedia, and pedagogical content that extends the impact of your work. Authors will work directly with the VAR editorial assistant on these. See recent examples here.
DIALOGUES
EDITOR-REVIEWED
6000 words for combined first-person interviews and critical commentary on books, films, exhibitions, visual anthropology programs, and/or other happenings related to visual anthropology
Individuals wishing to undertake a DIALOGUE are encouraged to contact the appropriate editor with a brief proposal that outlines for the curator, author, filmmaker, collective, or other expert whose work they wish to engage.
First piloted in the fall 2019 issue (Barnabas & Wijngaarden 2019) before being established as a regular and rotating section with the journal’s redesign, Dialogues were inspired by the journal’s earlier “In Dialogue” section that included transcripts of public dialogues (Bhabha & Burgin 1992), interviews at film festivals (Lutkehaus 1994), and conversations specifically for VAR with filmmakers and visual theorists (Chen 1992).
Submission Portal
After your initial proposal has been accepted by the correct editor, please submit all materials through ScholarOne. It is important to note that all revisions, re-submissions, and communication with authors about their manuscript are facilitated through ScholarOne. Authors are encouraged to check spam/junk folders for filtered emails from Wiley or the editors.
Authorship
Dialogues are jointly authored by the reviewer/interviewer and interviewee(s). The reviewer/interviewer should be listed as the corresponding author.
Deadline & Length
Dialogues are due on ScholarOne eight weeks after the editor’s acceptance of the proposal, unless otherwise agreed. Dialogues should be no more than 6000 words.
Title Page. This document is not for peer-review and should include the following:
Author Information Dialogues are jointly-authored by the reviewer/interviewer and interviewee(s). The reviewer/interviewer should be listed as the corresponding author. Include all authors’ names, affiliations, and emails. Identify the corresponding author with an asterisk (*).
Article Title We encourage authors to include important keywords (ideally within the first 65 characters) and to keep titles short to enhance their discoverability. For tips, consult Wiley Author Services.
Short Title (4–5 words) This will be used as the running header.
Abstract (<100 words) Describe the focus of the conversation using essential keywords in the first two sentences. Avoid parenthetical citations in your abstract.
Keywords (5) Each dialogue should have 5 keywords. These are critical terms that summarize highlights, themes, and content from your discussion and review.
Authors’ Bios (<50 words) If including current institutional affiliation, education, positions held, and/or relevant publication, please describe in narrative form rather than parenthetically.
Dialogue. (6000 words, including notes and bibliography, follow VAR Style Guide) Upload this as the “Main Document” in ScholarOne. Dialogues are pedagogically-oriented, collaboratively authored works that combine a traditional review of either a film, curatorial project/exhibition, book, program, etc., with an engaged conversation between the filmmaker, author, curator, or creator (interviewees) and fellow scholar (interviewer). The review section of a Dialogue is framed with a strong introduction written by the interviewer that, like a traditional review (see content guidelines above), provides a clear context and history to the work or media being discussed with the interviewee. Authors are encouraged to provide more references to existing literature, media, and practices than typical of a review. The dialogic portions are jointly authored because the interviewer and interviewee undertake a process-focused conversation that discusses the nuances of filmmaking, curating, and/or publishing, while further contextualizing these practices within the history of its practice and contemporary experimentation in the field of visual anthropology. Those collaborating on a Dialogue are encouraged to share with readers their process of discussion and include narration or evidence of mutual annotation and revision of their conversation to reflect the dialogic nature of this format. Dialogues are critically engaged conversations that take VAR readers further to specific works in order to expand knowledge into new happenings and innovations in the field of visual anthropology. Dialogues are imagined to become instrumental resources for classroom use to accompany films, media, books, and exhibition discussions. (See Webb & Yokobosky 2020 for “Fashioning Inclusion, Designing Internationalism: Pierre Cardin at the Brooklyn Museum, An exhibition review and dialogue between Matthew Webb and Matthew Yokobosky” from VAR 36.1 as an example.)
Image Files. Upload each image as separate “Figure” files in ScholarOne. Label each with the the figure number that corresponds to the text (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2). These images must be at least 300 dpi and in .jpg or .tiff format. It is not necessary to enter the caption text with the file upload. Please append a caption list instead.
Caption List & Alt Text. Upload a complete caption list as an “Additional File for Review but NOT Publication” in ScholarOne. Ensure that the captions match each figure exactly. Include image credits in your captions. In addition to captions, authors are responsible for providing alt text (alternative text) for all figures. Alt text describes the content of the image in less than 125 characters for individuals unable to view the image. Captions and alt text should follow this format:
FIGURE #. Name of Maker, Title, Location, YEAR. Photo by First NAME Last NAME. [ALT TEXT: 125 character description] Example: Figure 7. Kabusha Radio Remix installation, Paris, 2016. Photo by Kwame Phillips. [person sitting at desk wearing glasses looking at archival letters with stereo and headphones on desk]
FIGURE #. Name of Maker, Title, Location, YEAR (optional if not included in descriptive title). Image courtesy of [Source/Name]. Example: Figure 4. Zanele Muholi, Sebenzile, Parktown, 2016. Image courtesy of Stevenson Gallery. [the artist Zanele Muholi’s upper body and head are draped in tubes from a washing machine and the tubes circle above their head forming a contemporary halo]
FIGURE #. Descriptive Summary of the Image. Photo by First NAME Last NAME, YEAR. Example. Figure 9. Screenshot from Sent Away Boys. Harjant Gill, 2016. [individual sitting on a cot in a courtyard]
FIGURE #. Description of the scene in the screen capture. Screenshot from Name of Film. Image Courtesy of [Source/Name]. Example: Figure 7. Unidentified woman of the Musk-Ox, her facial expression demonstrating recognition of the camera, Malerisiorfik. Frame grab from Med Hundeslæde gennem Alaska, 1927. [unidentified person of the Musk-Ox, their facial expression demonstrating recognition of the camera]
If you have videos or links to media you can include it in this document. If the links lead to password protected sites, please ensure the password is current and included in this document.
Review Process
Each submission will be reviewed first by the appropriate section editors, and then the co-editors, who may each request revisions. Once a manuscript is accepted, authors will work with the editors on final copyediting via First Look in ScholarOne. Final revisions must conform to VAR Style or they will be returned. The editors may enlist an external copyeditor for an additional level of review. Authors will receive e-proofs from the publisher along with queries and corrections approximately six weeks before the issue goes to print. They should take this opportunity to carefully proof their article as this will be their last chance to make any changes. Both copyediting and proofreading must be completed in a timely manner to meet publication deadlines. Prior to publication, the author must complete the Author Agreement Form, which will be sent to the author directly via email from the publisher (Wiley-Blackwell).
Preparing Figures for Publication
Figures that are copyrighted must be accompanied by written permission for the journal to reprint them, granted directly by the copyright holder. VAR recommends that if such permission is required, authors begin the process as early as possible (ideally with the initial submission of the article to the journal). To that end, authors will be asked to complete a Visual Permissions Form. Please note, VAR does not have a standing budget for image licensing. Authors are responsible for any fees and securing any licenses.
Images for publication must be at least 300 dpi and uploaded in either .tiff or .jpg formats. Please do not compress images for publication! A typical image with the required specifications has a size of about 1.2 megabytes. Images that are not sufficient for publication will be returned to the author with a request to resize or replace. Name digital image files “Figure 1.” “Figure 2.” etc. Do not include lengthy descriptions in the figure name as this may cause confusion in the layout stage.
Supplements
Once your manuscript is in production, you will be invited to provide additional materials (images, videos, links to relevant news articles, etc.) for an online supplement to your work. This is a space in which we feature dynamic, multimedia, and pedagogical content that extends the impact of your work. Authors will work directly with the VAR editorial assistant on these. See recent examples here.
VIRTUAL ISSUES
EDITOR-REVIEWED
1000 word introduction to a curated thematic collection of 5–7 VAR articles from the archive
Virtual issue proposals may be solicited directly by editors or suggested by potential curators.
Submission Portal
Please submit all materials through ScholarOne. It is important to note that all revisions, re-submissions, and communication with authors about their manuscript are facilitated through ScholarOne. Authors are encouraged to check spam/junk folders for filtered emails from Wiley, ScholarOne, and the editors.
Required Components for Virtual Issues
All Virtual Issue submissions must include:
Title Page. This document is not for peer-review and should include the following:
Curator Information Include the name, affiliation, and email of the virtual issue curator. In the case of multiple curators, be sure to identify who the corresponding curator will be.
Virtual Issue Title We encourage curators to include important keywords (ideally within the first 65 characters) and to keep titles short to enhance their discoverability. For tips, consult Wiley Author Services.
Keywords (5 words). These are critical terms that summarize highlights, themes, and content from the virtual issue.
List of Articles (5–7 VAR articles) The curator should provide complete citations, including DOIs, for each of the articles included in the proposed virtual issue.
Curator Bio(s) (<50 words) If including current institutional affiliation, education, positions held, and/or relevant publication for each curator, please describe in narrative form rather than parenthetical.
Virtual Issue Introdution. (1000 words, including notes and bibliography, follow VAR Style Guide) Upload this as the “Main Document” in ScholarOne. The introduction needs to clearly articulate the thematic focus of the virtual issue, why this juxtaposition of past VAR articles is compelling now, and how the concept and/or theme’s treatment have changed over time.
Review Process & Decision Timeline
Once the virtual issue is received through ScholarOne, it will be reviewed by the co-editors who will render a decision typically within three weeks. Once accepted, curators will work with the editors on final copyediting via First Look in ScholarOne. Final revisions must conform to VAR Style or they will be returned. Virtual issues are scheduled to run throughout the year and are not tied to the print publication dates.
Before you submit, please ensure you have checked the following
Proofread & Anonymize
Pay particular attention to spelling and grammar. Common errors include run-on sentences and paragraphs, failure to cite appropriately, and lack of subject-verb agreement.
Anonymize your submission materials by removing your name from the text and bibliography (replacing it with Author) and any metadata (e.g., track changes, file name) in your files .
Spelling & Punctuation
US, rather than British or Australian. Conform to the first spelling in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. In the event that non-US spelling appears in a quotation used in text of the submission, leave spelling as-is. For punctuation, please follow the guidelines in the Chicago Manual of Style.
Citations & Length
Follow the Chicago Manual of Style’s Author-Date format, using in-text citations and a list of references at the end of the text. Citations are political: credit the sources you consult and be inclusive in your citational practices.
Any submission greater than 7,000 words in length (including figures, tables, references, and endnotes) will not be considered.
If you have any questions, please contact the VAR Editorial Assistant.
WILEY EDITING SERVICES
Article Preparation Support
Wiley Editing Services offers expert help with English Language Editing, as well as translation, manuscript formatting, figure illustration, figure formatting, and graphical abstract design—so you can submit your manuscript with confidence.
Also, check out our resources for Preparing Your Article for general guidance about writing and preparing your manuscript.
Article Promotion Support
Wiley Editing Services offers professional video, design, and writing services to create shareable video abstracts, infographics, conference posters, lay summaries, and research news stories for your research— so you can help your research get the attention it deserves.
COPYRIGHT AGREEMENT
If your paper is accepted, the author identified as the formal corresponding author for the paper will receive an email prompting them to login into Author Services; where via the Wiley Author Licensing Service (WALS) they will be able to complete the license agreement on behalf of all authors on the paper. If the OnlineOpen option is not selected the corresponding author will be presented with the journal's standard license agreement to sign.
Authors are permitted to self-archive the peer-reviewed (but not final) version of the Contribution on the Contributor’s personal website, in the Contributor’s company/institutional repository or archive, and in certain not for profit subject-based repositories such as PubMed Central as listed here. There are separate arrangements with certain funding agencies governing reuse of this version as set forth here. The Contributor may not update the accepted version or replace it with the published Contribution.
If the OnlineOpen option is selected the corresponding author will have a choice of the following Creative Commons License Open Access Agreements (OAA):
Creative Commons Attribution License OAA
Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License OAA
Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial -NoDerivs License OAA
To preview the terms and conditions of these open access agreements please visit the the Wiley Author Services Copyright FAQs and Wiley Open Access Agreement.
OnlineOpen If you select the OnlineOpen option and your research is funded by certain funders [e.g. The Wellcome Trust and members of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) or the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)] you will be given the opportunity to publish your article under a CC-BY license supporting you in complying with your funder requirements. For more information on this policy and the Journal’s compliant self-archiving policy please visit the Wiley Funder Statement.
UPDATED MAY 2, 2023