Methodology
Ethnography:
With a background in Anthropology I found the techniques of participant observation extremely useful to start my working process.
Particpant: I participate in the local, native culture. Namely the Masked Movement Ritual
Observation
initially I started writing about peoples behaviours on the tube. I watch them, specifically more phycological aspects of their behaviours: where is there focus, their body language, who sits next to who and so on. Through this examination and writing practice with creating a distance objective character whilst performing the role of an anthropologist, I to alienate myself from certain things: the black box (phone) held around heart and genital areas. I have 'field note books'.
visual observations and sketching: I sketch as a process of looking, seeing,
processing and interpreting. drawings are useful to think with as they help you consider
what is in front of you. they must me quick and immediate.
Also, area for further research. I am interested in the ethical implications of what visually
recording people throws out! Whilst people usually see me sketching, you can tell if
people are nervous or not. However, a few confrontations has meant that I am
fascinated and would love to research and write more about the ethical implications
of drawing people. what is the difference between a drawing and a photograph. T
o what extent does the meaning change when the drawing becomes digitalised?]
To what extent does your gender or other social identities effect the ethical
considerations when drawing informants.
To what extent should you ask permissions when drawing people, in my case
the ethical implications of FILMING people without their permission?
For example, this man: I showed my sketch to him as I finished it and he was extremely
offended and told me
'never do that again'
These notions of consent are often present when thinking about the ethical and political implications of representation. Also, as I consider my own culture, I am drawn towards AUTOETHNOGRPAHICAL TECHINIQES and would love to develop this part of my research FURTHER. Especially as I enjoy increasingly the writing process.
Alternatively, some people are delighted and offer themselves
to be sketched and if 'not now when?' offering themselves to pose
in a photo so that they may too be drawn and or painted! Like this guy
(he works on the underground)
frottages would be a completely different
way of recording the landscape... something to consider....
Recording:
audio- soundscapes, voice recordings,
Help you get outside of your own perspective. I have started interviewing people about their daily routine but I would like to further this aspect of the research! Individual voices are an excellent way to humanise drawings and paintings. I did not use audio in my main intallation dues to sound clash but also, I wanted to play with the idea that other cultures traditionally were never been granted a voice.
Collecting materials. I uses different types of media to 'record' and
'collect data about my ethnographic landscape.
