Tim Asch

Timothy Asch (July 16, 1932 – October 3, 1994, Los Angeles, California), was a noted anthropologist, photographer, and ethnographic filmmaker. Along with John Marshall and Robert Gardner, Asch played an important role in the development of visual anthropology. He is particularly known for his film The Ax Fight. Asch was born in Southampton, New York and attended The Putney School before joining Columbia University where he received his B.S. in an... more

Timothy Asch (July 16, 1932 – October 3, 1994, Los Angeles, California), was a noted anthropologist, photographer, and ethnographic filmmaker. Along with John Marshall and Robert Gardner, Asch played an important role in the development of visual anthropology. He is particularly known for his film The Ax Fight. Asch was born in Southampton, New York and attended The Putney School before joining Columbia University where he received his B.S. in anthropology in 1959. While at Columbia, he served as a teaching assistant for Margaret Mead who encouraged his work in visual anthropology. From 1950-1951, he served apprenticeships with Minor White, Edward Weston and Ansel Adams through the San Francisco Art Institute (formerly known as the California School of Fine Arts). He received his M.A. in African Studies from Boston University (with an anthropology concentration at Harvard University) in 1964. Asch was known for the his work as an ethnographic filmmaker on the Yanomami in conjunction... less