British Functionalism (ca.1920-1950) Bronislaw Malinowksi’s study of the Trobriand Islands in Melanesia in the western Pacific region Argonauts of the Western Pacific (famous ethnography from 1922) The cultural features of a people should be explained by the functions they perform. Contributions: Importance of fieldwork and the “native point of view.” Relativism and holistic perspectives.
Evolution of ethnography Bronislaw Malinowski (1884-1942) considered the founder of the genre Exile in Trobriand Islands in South Pacific “Salvage ethnography” – preserving cultures facing the threat of disappearance Ethnographic realism: a scientific, objective account of social life from “the native’s point of view.” Functionalism: All aspects of culture are linked and have specific functions
The Professionalization of Social Scientific Data-Gathering and Analysis Franz Boas Bronislaw Malinowski E.E. Evans-Pritchard E.E. Evans-Pritchard and British Social Anthropology As we discussed with the development of the concept of culture, one response to culture evolution schemes was the development of the Structural Functionalist school of thought. E.E. Evans-Pritchard was one of the most prominent members of that group of scholars. Structural functionalists believed that ethnography and culture could be approached scientifically. In particular they wanted to divide cultures into systems. Evans-Pritchard’s ethnography of the Nuer in Sudan was a pivotal example of this approach. In principle he was building from Malinowski’s base of ethnographic fieldwork and participant observation. He added to this by making detailed analyses of the systems found in the culture of the Nuer. These included political, economic, and kinship systems. Evans-Pritchard’s efforts helped to systematize anthropology and make it easier for anthropologists to compare their work across cultures. Copyright © 2013, W.W. Norton & Company
Ethnographic techniques Participant observation Taking part in activities being observed Establishing trust and rapport with hosts Recording of details from daily events Conversation (informal) Interviews (open-ended and formal) Genealogies to understand relationships Key consultants/informants Life histories
Ethnographic techniques Emic approach (insider): how local people perceive and categorize the world Etic approach (outsider): categories the anthropologist considers important Problem-oriented ethnography Collection of data on range of sociocultural variables Surveys - Collection and analysis of data from a representative sample of a population to draw inferences Longitudinal studies - over time Team research
How do anthropologists write ethnography? Polyvocality Reflexivity Tone and Style Ethnographic Authority Experiments in Ethnographic Writing
Challenges in the Field Stereotyping - fieldworkers and the community they are studying have stereotypes that must be overcome. Developing Rapport - acceptance by the community so that a working relationship is possible. Working with informants -sometimes people engage in deliberate deception. Culture Shock- psychological trauma from being in an alien culture.
What moral and ethical concerns guide anthropologists in their research and writing? Do No Harm Obtain Informed Consent Ensure Anonymity
AAA Code of Ethical Conduct for Fieldworkers Not undertaking or continuing research that will be harmful to the host community. Respecting the wishes of individuals regarding their public identification. Obtain the informed consent of people before undertaking work. Not exploiting individuals or groups for personal gain. Preserving the integrity of scholarly research and publication.
Some ethical quandaries for the anthropologist What does it mean to “do no harm”? Should we talk to unethical people? Should we take on difficult subjects?
Human Terrain Systems