On Ethnography: Chapter 6

This chapter looks at the historical roots of ethnography in anthropology. This chapter begins with a discussion of anthropology and ethnography in England. The authors state that "Languages, political systems, religion, gender relations, and means of warfare figured centrally as topics of first concern in ethnographies" written in the past by these British Scholars.

The chapter then moves on to Anthropology in American history. This history begins when anthropologist began studying, observing and recording languages, history, culture, ways of life, etc. of disappearing indigenous populations in the U.S. These cultures were seen as resources of wisdom that could not be lost.

The U.S. also used anthropologist to study "alien enemies" in order to understand them. Anthropologist were also used to understand immigrants. And in the past, not only in America, anthropologist have been used to gain political, social, and economic power. Ethnographers "offer descriptions and analyses of languages, life ways, and patterns of belief. These could inform governments and their emissaries about the range of social, ideological, and cultural differences spread across the world" (115). Sometimes this information was used to oppress people, take advantage of them, etc. Other times this information has been used for positive social change. Some of these examples can be seen in the "Applied Anthropology" section.

Getting this insider information can be dangerous if released into the wrong hands, which is a problem because there is pressure to make ethnographical studies more public and widely available.

I think the authors' main point is that ethnographers need to be aware of the history of ethnography and anthropology so that they are aware of the power of the information that they are collecting and the responsibility they have as ethnographers not to let their study exploit the population they are studying.

On another note, the authors also point out that ethnographers need to remember that "We still [...] can only speak as mortals from various historical, culture bound standpoints. Our claims are inevitably limited and partial. But perhaps making these limits more apparent and by knowing well what constitutes ethnographic validity, we will make our narrative and analysis more, not less, believable. "

The chapter ends with a discussion on how to go about making a public ethnographic text. This can be found on pages 127-128.