Why Ethno-Performance and Why not? Martha S. Feldman University of California, Irvine Copywrite Martha Feldman

Performance Better to go to the theater? Better to go to the theater? –Misses the point Most of us should not produce plays for popular consumption Most of us should not produce plays for popular consumption But many of us should produce plays or poems or songs or other kinds of performances as ways of engaging with our data and expanding the interpretive possibilities But many of us should produce plays or poems or songs or other kinds of performances as ways of engaging with our data and expanding the interpretive possibilities Copywrite Martha Feldman

Qualitative data We meet extraordinary people and hear extraordinary stories We meet extraordinary people and hear extraordinary stories We seldom have an opportunity to present these gems to any audience. We seldom have an opportunity to present these gems to any audience. –They are lost to others –Worse, they may be lost to us But the reason for writing a play is not just to indulge ourselves. But the reason for writing a play is not just to indulge ourselves. Copywrite Martha Feldman

Imaginative Theorizing How can we as interpretive researchers theorize more imaginatively from our research data? How can we as interpretive researchers theorize more imaginatively from our research data? [We] “can stare stupidly at phenomena; but in the absence of imagination they will not connect themselves together in any rational way.” Peirce, 1896 [We] “can stare stupidly at phenomena; but in the absence of imagination they will not connect themselves together in any rational way.” Peirce, 1896 Copywrite Martha Feldman

Abduction Imagining a way of understanding the patterns that brings us new insights Imagining a way of understanding the patterns that brings us new insights Different from induction - unless we add something, induction yields only data patterns Different from induction - unless we add something, induction yields only data patterns What can we do to help ourselves gain new insights? What can we do to help ourselves gain new insights? Copywrite Martha Feldman

Engaging with Data Standard approach Standard approach –Minimal engagement with the data »Have someone else transcribe your interview notes »Move as quickly as possible to focused analysis Writing this play allows Charlie to revel in Anise’s style of teaching and relationship to her students Writing this play allows Charlie to revel in Anise’s style of teaching and relationship to her students Think of the play a set of field notes Think of the play a set of field notes Copywrite Martha Feldman

Interpreting Data Data reduction Data reduction The standard approach to qualitative data would have Charlie capture Anise Arcova into categories of codes The standard approach to qualitative data would have Charlie capture Anise Arcova into categories of codes –How would we code these data? –What would we lose by coding these data? Copywrite Martha Feldman

Expanding Interpretive Possibilities Data expansion Data expansion –Not making up data, but filling in what we know, what we have learned –What does Charlie gain by paying attention to the setting? The teacher’s way of talking? What are the interpretive possibilities that Charlie develops through writing the play? What are the interpretive possibilities that Charlie develops through writing the play? How does writing a play expand interpretive possibilities? How does writing a play expand interpretive possibilities? Copywrite Martha Feldman

Subjectivity and Reflexivity Who you are influences what you see Who you are influences what you see Three forms of bias identified by Bourdieu Three forms of bias identified by Bourdieu –Social origins of researcher –Position analyst occupies in the academic field –Intellectualist bias that entices us to “collapse practical knowledge into theoretical knowledge” (39-40) Need to objectify the objectifying distance Need to objectify the objectifying distance Copywrite Martha Feldman

Researcher Observations Copywrite Martha Feldman

Another View of Reflexivity What you see influences who you are What you see influences who you are –And what you think –And what new ideas you have –And what you can say This kind of reflexivity may be achieved through “reflexive interpretation…the open play of reflection across various levels of interpretation (Alvesson and Sköldberg, 2000) This kind of reflexivity may be achieved through “reflexive interpretation…the open play of reflection across various levels of interpretation (Alvesson and Sköldberg, 2000) Copywrite Martha Feldman

Researcher Observations Copywrite Martha Feldman

Researcher Observations Copywrite Martha Feldman

Researcher Observations Copywrite Martha Feldman

Researcher Observations Copywrite Martha Feldman

Why Ethno-Performance? Ethno-performance is one of many ways that you can: Ethno-performance is one of many ways that you can: –Engage your data more fully. –Expand the interpretive possibilities of your data. –Objectify the objectifying distance. –Add to your subjective interpretive possibilities. Copywrite Martha Feldman

And Why Not? For most of us, ethno-performance is not about the audience. For most of us, ethno-performance is not about the audience. Ethno-performance as part of academic analysis should be judged on how it changes you rather than on how it changes the audience. Ethno-performance as part of academic analysis should be judged on how it changes you rather than on how it changes the audience. Copywrite Martha Feldman