[Last modified: November, 28 2024 07:31 PM]
I was unfortunately unable to attend last week’s seminar and, as a result, missed the opportunity to engage in what sounded like a fascinating and illuminating exercise. While I can rely on my peers’ detailed blog posts to reflect on how the exercise might contribute as a multimodal ethnographic tool, I believe it would be more instructive to analyze a field site of my own and explore how multimodal techniques could enhance the ethnographic knowledge produced.
This led me to reflect on recent experiences, specifically my volunteering at a local foodbank. Although I’ve been involved with the foodbank for over five years and am familiar with both the physical space and the employees and local visitors who frequent the charity, I was recently invited to assist with one of their lunch clubs. I was struck by how much the space I thought I knew was transformed through the activity. This physical transformation, with tables pushed together and chairs unstacked, was complemented by an influx of visitors who, in turn, transformed the atmosphere.
Capturing this physical transformation through words alone is challenging, making it an ideal opportunity to use multimodal techniques. Personally, I would use video, time-lapse photography, or before-and-after images to visually document the functional transformation of the space and to deepen my ethnographic account of the activity.
Similarly, throughout the lunch club, there was a dynamic auditory experience, identifiable through patrons’ chatter, the scraping of utensils, the bubbling of food, and the rumble of London traffic outside. I believe an audio-scape recording of the space during this event would significantly enhance the ethnographic account. This approach would offer a more immersive and dynamic representation of the space and activity, allowing the background noises, local dialects, and convivial spirit to be experienced firsthand by the reader, rather than solely through the researcher’s description. Additionally, this provides an opportunity for greater subjectivity, as different readers may experience the audio differently and focus on different sounds.
While I believe these methods would enrich the ethnography, there are important ethical considerations to address, particularly regarding the dignity, privacy, and autonomy of participants. Informed consent must be obtained before any photography or audio recording, and care should be taken to avoid capturing identifying details to maintain participant anonymity. It’s also essential to respect participants’ comfort levels with being documented and to offer them the option to opt out.
Overall, I believe my chosen field site offers a valuable opportunity for multimodal ethnography. However, ethical considerations must be carefully managed to ensure the safety and comfort of all participants.