Ethnographic Research Methods
Taught by Rachel S.
Rachel Signer received her MA in sociocultural anthropology from The New School in 2010. She’s done ethnographic research in Chile and, more recently, Senegal, where she directed a study of the sociocultural sustainable development needs of a village. As an adjunct lecturer in anthropology, Rachel has supervised students’ ethnographic projects at Queensborough Community College. Additionally Rachel is a journalist, producing stories about social entrepreneurship, impact investment, and sustainability efforts for a variety of online publications.
Recent Activity
-
_tiny.JPG)
jen posted Link Round Up!
One of our very favorite things is seeing peoples' experiences at the Brainery pop up allmore
-
jen posted a link to "Starting from Scratch"
An article written by Rachel on the challenge of keeping your original socialmore
-
jen posted a link to "Saturday Night Live"
Great post from a class member on how the internet helps us connect IRL.
-
jen posted June Classes Open
We have so many classes in June, it's way too many to list here.
But before you hop overmore
This is an old class! Enjoy the notes, and check out the current courses.
Ethnography is a process and intervention that leads to an intense, in-depth understanding of a situation or population from a historical vantage point that is at once objective and subjective.
This two-session workshop is aimed at artists, designers, entrepreneurs, writers, and journalists whose work might benefit from ethnographic research. Ethnography will be presented in this course both in its traditional academic context - as it has been used by anthropologists for centuries to determine social structures in site-specific environments - as well as through a radicalized lens that opens up ethnography to our contemporary landscape. This latter form will embrace ethnography as a multimedia, multi-sited method of gathering information about any target: a potential product market, a cultural setting, a geographic phenomenon, a neighborhood, or even an online community.
Ultimately, you’ll learn how to become a “citizen ethnographer” by bringing an ethnographic question from start to finish. In addition to emphasizing practical skills, the course will encourage participants to consider the ethical and political implications of their ethnographic research.
End products of the course will vary on individual students' area of interest; it could be a business plan, a pitch for a research project or longform story, a photo essay, a film, a Power Point presentation, a website/blog, or even a concept that is a starting point for another project. And, students who want to do ethnography for nothing more than curiosity and intellectual stimulation are also encouraged, as experiential knowledge of a particular subject can be worthwhile for its own sake.
This class, like all the rest, takes place at the Brainery space at the corner of W. 9th and Court in Carroll Gardens.
Notes & Posts
Link Round Up!
One of our very favorite things is seeing peoples' experiences at the Brainery pop up allmore
New Session Added: Ethnographic Research Methods
We've added a new two-week session of Ethnographicmore
Our Teachers Have Awesome Blogs
Four Pounds Flour - by Sarah, who taught a wicked class on Historicmore
June Classes Open
We have so many classes in June, it's way too many to list here.
But before you hop overmore
Pictures
No pictures yet!
Books
Out of the Pits: Traders and Technology from Chicago to London
The transition tomore
Links
"Saturday Night Live"
Great post from a class member on how the internet helps us connect IRL.
"Starting from Scratch"
An article written by Rachel on the challenge of keeping your original social mission in mind while developing your business.
