Explore Laura Zimmer-Tamakoshi's fieldwork site The Anthropologist in the Field. How has the author dealt with issues of field site selection, rapport, and data collection?
Dr. Laura Zimmer-Tamakoshi's website is a how-to guide for other anthropologists beginning to look into field work. It brings to mind the article we went over today "Notes and Queries on Anthropology" which to me seemed like a Dummies Guide to Beginner Anthropological Research. Dr. Laura Zimmer-Tamakoshi's website is of course geared to people in the anthropological field, not just anyone who happens to be on their way to Papua New Guinea for an extended period of time. She talks about choosing a field site in the 'Field Site' section of her website. There she describes how you should find an area that is exemplary for what ever issue you are going to be studying. She says since her topic was quite broad (outmigration for better pay) she had more places to choose from. After doing research and reading the censuses she decided Bundi would be the best place for her research because it had a very high outmigration rate. She then changed her field site to study the Gende peoples.
Laura says that the advice she received before leaving for Papau New Guinea was to introduce herself to everyone and take no one for granted. This allowed her to have a good relationship or rapport with the all of the people she met, especially the locals. Here you can see photos of her interacting with the Gende people: http://www.theanthropologistinthefield.com/images/
Although being kind helped Laura with rapport, Dr. Laura Zimmer Tamakochi has an emic view. She says it was difficult at times because she felt like an outsider because, "among the Gende everyone is a member of a clan, related to other Gende through kinship, marriage, and exchange. To be otherwise is to be a stranger." Dr. Laura Zimmer-Tamakoshi's data collection consisted of many, many field notes which she says she guarded with her life! She also talks about the importance of taking pictures. As we all know "a picture is worth a thousand words".
-Annie
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Is there more advice that Dr. Laura Zimmer Tamakochi gives about introducing ones self to a new culture? Did you read anything on the website that you thought you might be able to use here at home (perhaps when interacting with people of a different subculture)?
ReplyDeleteI like this post, Fieldsite; Dr Laura Zimmer choosing a fieldsite. She choose Bundi because it had a very high outmigration rate. She received advice to introduce herself to everyone and take no one for granted. this is a good learn for everyone of us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feed back. To reply to Elise, as I mentioned in the post she said the most useful tip she received before beginning her travels was to take no one for granted. I think we can all use this in our everyday life, not just in anthropology, especially when interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds. Learning the language and customs of the culture you are going to visit is also something she recommends so that you don't insult anyone by accident. The text book also talks about the importance of learning the native language. It also mentions how many anthropologists need to modify the language they learnt when they get to the field site because the locals use so much 'slang' not taught in formal classes.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading the "notes and queries" handout I had a similar Anthropology for Dummies thought. The author seemed to want to know about more sordid things like cannibalism and intoxicants. When I am exposed to a new culture the question of do they eat people is far from my mind.
ReplyDeletei like how you discussed how she began as an anthropoloist. the information you presented is clear and easy to understand. dr laura does a good job explaining that even though she started out as a stranger, she quickly fitted in by being kind. i know when i feel like an outsider, i be friendly to everyone, no matter what and never take anyone for granted. it always works.
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