Some ethnographic projects are a labor from start to finish. We are standing in a wind tunnel, data coming at us at volume and speed. Eventually a pattern forms, but not before exhaustion and sometimes delirium takes hold.
This project is different. It has a Hogarthian quality. The engraving is rich and complicated, but you don’t have to look at it for very long before the story becomes clear. Oh, there’s the pub owner, oh, there’s the women ruined by gin, the man consumed by a life of crime. The pattern forms, develops photolike in the fixing tray of consciousness.
There is lots going on, a fabulous diversity of response, and just when you then you are going to be carried away by a data storm, the pattern forms. There are moments where you are almost claimed by glib assumptions. Respondents are talking about something you thought you knew. But no, in the course of conversation, you realize that you were supplying an assumption that does not apply. It would have been easy to miss one, and you count your blessings, and thank God for the messiness and redundancy of the method.
This is a demanding project: 3 interviews a day, 6 hours of careful listening and questioning, hours of commuting as I travel back and forth across London. This is a chance to see how truly superb is this system of public transport. Really, I sometimes feel like a datum speeding about in the mind of the machine. This schedule leaves no time to see the London that tourist’s care about, but this morning, coming to the Kinko’s from which I write this, I did get a glimpse of Berkeley square, a place so beautiful it feels thoroughly inhabited.
You could say that the 20th century was, among other things, a contest between two phrases:
1. Don’t you know who I am?
2. Who do you think you are?
I am always glad that the latter won. Almost always.
Thanks to my patron on this trip, Mark Murray.
What a charming image you floating about London and typing in Kinko’s. Kinko’s that wonderful. I love using public computers to check in to the world of correspondance. I feel as if when I’m travelling I have found something homey and familiar when online. It soesn’t make sense but it how it feels. Familair blogs, web sites, email format. How hilarious the hotels didn’t have computer access…hmm…
Really enjoyed your last couple of entires here. I like your questions between two phases of 20th century.
(Side note, for person wondering about Coke and it’s relationship with American Idol several days ago here, well you could have had that answered in last night’s finale. But I did write about Coca-cola’s ad during American Idol at my blog-it was brilliant!!!…http://gnosticminx.blogspot.com/)
Wow, Grant. Karen and I are in London as well…today, off to the Chelsea Flower Show. Email if you want to have a drink.
those 2 questions are great, and so true.