Writing Ethnography

Catalog description

What is ethnography? What makes an anthropological text a vivid and compelling ethnography? How is ethnography different from (and similar to) other forms of producing knowledge about human experience, such as journalism or narrative nonfiction? How do ethnographers establish authority through writing? How do ethnographers engage with questions of ethics and politics of witnessing and storytelling? This graduate seminar is part critical examination of ethnography as a genre of knowledge production and representation and part writing workshop focused on the craft of ethnographic writing. Throughout the semester students will 1) read ethnographies and discuss their features; 2) read about the craft of writing and explore strategies and techniques for portraying characters and describing places and events; and 3) practice writing ethnographically through short in-class exercises and longer written assignments.