IB Cultural Anthropology/The Ethnographies/How to Read an Ethnography

Back to IB Cultural Anthropology/The Ethnographies An ethnography is usually a book that studies a particular culture in depth. Ethnographies do not necessarily need to be books, however- they can also be films. Steps to reading ethnography Find the interpretation. Separate the interpretation from the description Examine the selection of data. What did the anthropologist spend the most time on? Examine the theoretical framework the ethnography is working within. Find the fundamental questions the ethnography is trying to answer. These are usually provided in the introduction or first chapter. Examine the organization of the ethnography. Interpretation vs. Description An example of the difference between description and interpretation is as follows: Examine the “wink.” Description A description of a wink would be: blinking one eye. This, however, is hardly satisfying. Interpretation Interpretation of this data would show that winking is a gesture that indicates: Joviality Flirting Knowing Other emotions This would provide a much more thorough understanding of what a “wink” really is. Back to IB Cultural Anthropology/The Ethnographies