Ethnography: Problems and Prospects

I thought this was a helpful article regarding some of hte current problems iwth ethnography. One section that I had hoped would be more further developed was virtual ethnography, although I suppose that is the topic of an entire book, not just one section of an article. I thought the initial discussion of some of the changes in ethngraphic work since its start in anthropology are especially important to consider in education. All methods develop over time, as we have discussed in relation to other works this semester. I think it is important and necessary for education (and composition) to considser what methods are most effective for ethnography in the classroom and in the study of writing.

One important issue is the sense of time. "some ethnographers tend to treat what they observe in the situations they study as if this can be assumed to be typical of waht always happens there" (p.5). When doing any sort of research, I think it is important to realize that this is just one point in time. Also, the researcher certainlly may influence the way things happen. In a classroom, this may be due to a change in preparation or class planning by the teacher when they know they are going to be observed, or a change in actions by the participants. I think with ethnography it is important that there is at least multiple times that are witnessed, and that participants can become accoustomed to being observed so they will act more naturally than over a very short period. For instance, I know that my students are very aware when I am being observed. While they don't change drastically, their behavior is slightly different and they always comment on "that guy" at the back of the room following the observation, even though I tell them about it in advance.

"the essence of ethnography is the tension between trying to understand people's perspectives from the inside while also viewing them and their behavior more distantly, in ways that may be alien (and perhaps even objectionable) to them." (p.11). I think this quote is very important to the idea of ethnography, and I need to consider it further in relation to critical ethnography. If, as another author stated, there are times an ethnographer must intercede and provide their professional experience and understanding when there are injustices, how is that accepting of "alien" behavior? Does this change the ethnographer, and does this assume the ethnographer is the expert that others should follow? When entering another society, does an ethnographer really have the right to judge and insert their own opinions? I can't imagine not interceding if I saw an injustice, but it is difficult to understand when to allow things to run there course, and when it is necessary to do otherwise. Ethical issues are complex and dynamic, and must be dealt with while in the field.