Grimaud Emmanuel

Biography

Emmanuel Grimaud joined the CNRS in 2003, having completed his doctoral thesis in 2001 under the direction of Charles Malamoud. He specialises in the observation of kinetics in actuality, through subjects as diverse as the gestures used by filmmakers on their sets, the recognition effects of human doubles, techniques for identifying traces on excavation sites, driving in intersections without traffic lights, beetle fighting and fish fighting (with Stéphane Rennesson), the movement of religious automata on ritual platforms in India, and even that of humanoid robots (with Zaven Paré). His most recent field study (with Thierry Coduys) concerns the movement of merchandise and the flow of couriers in Bombay, involving the use of GPS trackers and mounted cameras. In terms of methodology, his research makes use of novel experimental apparatuses with a view to developing the foundations of a “kinetic” anthropology of interaction. His work uses rigorous methods of closely observing actions in progress, particularly studying the role of micro-movements in interaction.

Research Interest

Anthropology of technology, kinetics of interaction, experimental apparatuses, cinema, archaeology, robotics, traffic