ANTHMETHGRP4-2425-LOTTE-STOLK

[Last modified: November, 28 2024 10:47 AM]

I went to a workout class at my gym, a HIIT session combined with strength training. This time felt different because I focused more on how my body felt in the moment and the space around me. Normally, a workout class is already about movement and being aware of how my body is doing—whether it’s tired, making progress; getting stronger or faster. But being extra focused on the body in this context added another dimension, and was different.

In the class there was loud music playing, I noticed myself running to the rhythm of the beats. It felt uplifting and kept me motivated to stay at the same pace. The music gave me energy and made me feel good in my body. However, being so conscious of my body in this space also made me feel more vulnerable. Wearing less clothing than usual outside, I became self-conscious, noticing how my body compared to others. Normally, I focus on the workout itself and use it to clear my mind, but this time I found myself in my head, comparing myself to others in the room.

Even so, there was a sense of collective energy. Everyone moved at their own pace, but we were all doing the same movements, creating a kind of unity. Some bodies were stronger or faster, but we all pushed ourselves, which was motivating. It was surprising to see what my body could actually do, and I felt proud of its capabilities in those moments. The physical challenge of pushing myself to the limit also made me more aware of how much effort it takes to achieve these movements.

Once the workout was over and I left the dark, music-filled room, stepping into the bright light outside felt like a shift. The focus returned to how the body looks, rather than what it can do. That feeling of vulnerability and self-consciousness carried on into the dressing room, where I became even more aware of my body in relation to others.

Being so conscious of how the body feels and moves in this space made me realize how much depth the body can bring to ethnographic research. It added a layer of understanding about how the body interacts with the environment and with other people. This focus on the body gave me insight into how physical spaces and activities shape not only our physical experience but also our emotions and sense of self.

[Last modified: November, 20 2024 12:22 PM]

The political dimensions of my pilot research project are present in the social dynamics of the workout spaces I am analyzing, although they are not immediately obvious. While these spaces may seem to focus purely on fitness and community, they could reflect certain political ideas or assumptions that influence who feels welcome and who does not. These include ideas about class, gender, and shared values, even if they are not directly present or discussed.

For example, these spaces may attract people with similar political beliefs, such as those who reject traditional capitalist ideas of competition or exclusivity. However, this also means that people who don’t share those beliefs, or who feel uncomfortable in such spaces, might choose not to come back. In this way, the spaces can unintentionally create boundaries, where some people feel they belong, and others do not. This raises questions about how inclusive these spaces really are.

Gender and body politics also play a big role. Workout spaces are places where people are vulnerable, you sweat, move, and exist together in small spaces. Changing rooms are often gendered. The atmosphere of the space, more masculine or feminine, affects who feels comfortable there. As a woman, I notice that I feel less comfortable in spaces that have a strong, competitive, or masculine energy. On the other hand, I feel more at ease in spaces that feel balanced or intentionally inclusive. I know realize that my own experiences shape how I see and understand these dynamics.

The outcomes of my research could highlight important issues about who feels included or excluded in workout spaces. These places can reflect and reinforce social divides. To address these political dimensions, I need to stay flexible and aware in my methods. By paying attention to how identity, values, and feelings of belonging interact in these spaces, I can better understand their deeper dynamics. I also need to be cautious of my own biases and experiences, making sure they don’t shape the findings but instead add to the understanding of these spaces.

[Last modified: October, 25 2024 03:25 PM]

→ Atmosphere:

I was sitting at the crossing of Gower Street and Torrington Place, just outside the Dillion coffee shop, at a table that allowed me to look at the crossings. This was the first time I was randomly, without a specific purpose, taking out my notebook to take notes of my surroundings and practice with field notes. I noticed that I was quite comfortable looking around and writing things down. I started by observing the people I saw. A woman and a young boy caught my attention; the way she was steering him in the right direction and guiding him suggested that she was his mother.

I also noticed many people with coffee cups. Most people were walking alone, or when in a group, it was usually a maximum of two, with three being an exception. I noticed a woman who seemed lost, looking at her phone and wandering around. At the same time, two people crossed while looking at their phones, and another person was also walking and looking at their phone. It seemed like there was a mixture of students and tourists at this crossroads. But then I wondered, how do I identify ‘tourists’ and ‘students’? For the tourists, I saw parents with children, well-packed and ready for a full day out, people wearing cameras around their necks, or carrying suitcases. The way they were looking around was also different from the students. The students were walking alone, with earplugs in, seeming tired but also determined. They appeared to know exactly where they were going.

At the crossroads, there were many bikes, and most of the people on the bikes were wearing helmets. For me, being Dutch and used to seeing not many people wearing helmets, that stood out.

The Scenery: It is autumn, but it is a warm autumn day. Some people are wearing warm winter coats, while others are just in sweaters, and a few are even in T-shirts. This likely reflects whether they checked the forecast that morning. The area feels kind of impressive and imposing, with the big university buildings and the old, beautiful houses on the other side of the street. The bookstore adds to the scene. The streets feel sophisticated and intellectual.

→ Categories: People, objects, scenery, kinship, movement, reason of being at location.

• The crossroad was crowded but never too crowded, as you didn’t need to wait too long to cross.
• The taxis and buses passing by had ads all over them.
• A girl passing said: “Why do you sound like a 30-year-old?”
• Most of the people walking alone were on their phones or listening to something. → What are they listening to?
• Different ages looking at their phones differently.

→ Reflection:

Just sitting here for 20 minutes, taking notes of my surroundings, the people, the scenery, and everything that catches my eye already taught me that taking field notes gives you so much more insight when writing in a notebook. Being able to draw, make connections, and scribble thoughts freely was very helpful. As Ludo mentioned in the lecture, you are actually writing things in your mind, and I noticed that it’s much easier than when I take notes on my laptop. I make connections or have ideas more naturally. This was an insight for me to, in general, take more notes on paper to enable my mind to make connections.

For the field notes of a specific moment or location, what I struggled with was that many people were passing by, so identifying them in a qualitative way was a bit more difficult. I am curious to see how I would manage to take notes in a more person-based field rather than focusing on the scenery and a busy crossing point, as I did this time. I also noticed that objects caught my eye, and I observed a kind of consistency in that, making connections through noticing them, which is helpful as I am in the MVC master.

 

[Last modified: October, 19 2024 02:29 PM]

What is your research topic

Health culture, and striving for the “best version” of yourself.

My research focuses on the culture surrounding extreme workouts and how these activities form communities. I have not yet decided whether to concentrate on trends like Highrox or extreme workout classes. I want to explore how this shapes people’s identities when looking at health, fitness, and well-being. Additionally, I want to see if these extreme workouts create a sense of belonging, and tell us more about broader social values around health and identity.

Why is this interesting in your opinion?

I am interested in this topic because it fascinates me that some people are obsessed with health and everything related to it. Health tracking through apps and technology is also a part of this culture. In Amsterdam, there is a gym called Saints & Stars, which seems almost cult-like in their way of communication and the way people participate in it. The culture surrounding it intrigues me. What I also find interesting is that, while it is about optimizing oneself, the focus is mainly on the physical, not the mental. Although physical and mental health are intertwined.

What preconceived ideas are you bringing to this research?

The preconceived ideas I bring to this research include that i think that these extreme workout classes and culture in general help form a kind of identity and find a sense of belonging. From the way some people talk about it on social media, it seems like it is a way to connect with others, but I also have this assumption of it being very self-centered. What also could be taken into account is that there is often a sense of self-consciousness when one starts going to the gym. I also bring preconceived ideas of my own experiences and feeling towards the gym, working out, health culture, the communication about it and also in specific these extreme workout classes i am focussing my research on.

Reflections on Reflexivity in My Research

Thinking about reflexivity has made me more aware of my own biases and the lens through which I approach this research. I realize that my personal experiences and assumptions can influence how I observe and interpret my research process and all the aspects in it. I understand now that what might seem familiar to me could become “unfamiliar” when observed on a deeper level, especially during fieldwork which is neccesary to me to become unfamiliar what seems familiar to me already. The assumptions i started with may change when i gather insights. I need to be flexible, allowing my questions to change based on what I learn and observe in the proces of the research. This means being careful and not jumping to conclusions. In the discussion we had during the tutorial I have also learned to pay closer attention to details, such as body language and subtle interactions and how to formulate them. Phrases like “I noticed that” encourage me to look deeper and challenge my biases.

[Last modified: October, 17 2024 08:50 PM]

Walking around the area of Bloomsbury, I noticed that most of the people around me were students. Since my research focuses on extreme health culture, I thought it would be useful to walk around and observe how many people were wearing workout clothes on a Friday at noon. Near Bloomsbury, most people were dressed for the day, whether for studies or work. Walking through the park, I saw people playing games and engaging with each other. It seemed more about entertainment and social connection than about burning calories and improving physical health.

I continued walking and stopped at a coffee shop to get a drink. I saw a girl wearing sports clothing—leggings, white socks, trainers, and a sweater, with headphones on, seemingly on a call, which I assumed was with a friend from the way she was talking. She ordered a matcha with oat milk, and after receiving her drink, she immediately went outside, continuing with her day and her call. Whether she had just worked out, was planning to, or never intended to, I couldn’t tell, but she looked ready for it.

As I walked further away from the campus, I headed to a gym known for its extreme workout classes. “Extreme” in the sense that the workout sessions are designed to make you sweat and burn as many calories as possible within the timeframe. Extreme also in the atmosphere—the music, the lights, and the way the instructor motivates you. The entrance had a big door with a sign above that read “Barry’s Bootcamp,” and it looked intriguing. I arrived just before lunchtime, between eleven and twelve. People came rushing in, presumably from work, walking briskly or arriving on Lime bikes.

A variety of people arrived, but most were men dressed in formal corporate attire. They looked as if they had just stepped out of an intense morning of meetings, yet here they were, squeezing in a midday workout before heading back to the office. They moved with a sense of urgency, as if this one hour at the gym was the only time they had to focus on themselves, to escape the stress of the office. I noticed that just observing people outside the gym already gave me valuable insights into the type of individuals who attend these workout classes. Without even stepping inside and experiencing it myself, I felt I had already gained a lot from simply observing people come and go, looking at them from a different perspective.

I will continue to observe, but I also plan to participate and engage directly to gain further insights into why individuals seek out such intense physical experiences and how this fits into broader patterns of identity, discipline, and lifestyle management in urban settings.

[Last modified: October, 10 2024 11:53 AM]

Topic: With this research pilot i want to explore the culture of extreme workout classes (such as boxing, HIIT, and spinning classes) and how participating in these shape people’s identities in terms of health, fitness, and well-being. I want to see how and if these fitness communities create a sense of belonging, and reflect broader social values around health and identity.

Health culture and the optimal way of living, striving for the “best version” of yourself plays a huge role in our culture today. The topic is relevant because it connects to bigger questions about today’s health culture.

Research Questions:

• What do these extreme workout classes provide to participants, beyond physical fitness?
• How does it influences the identities of the participants?
• Do these classes create a sense of community, despite the individualistic approach?
• Why are people willing to pay these high prices for these group fitness experiences, and what does this say about their values and motivations?

Anthropological and Ethnographic Relevance: This research is ethnographic because it looks at a cultural phenomenon that brings people together and gives them a sense of belonging. It is anthropological because it looks at how health, fitness, and community are intertwined and reflected in contemporary culture.

Methods:

• I will participate in different kinds of extreme workout classes to see how participants behave and interact with each other. I will also pay attention to the role of the instructors and how the atmosphere influences the experience.
• I will interview participants from these classes to understand their motivations for participating, their personal experiences, and how they think about health, health culture and identity in relation to these workouts.

Potential Findings: I might find answers to why and what these workout classes bring the participants, beyond just physical fitness. They could provide a sense of accomplishment, discipline, and maybe even a sense of belonging, despite the individual focus. These spaces might help people feel like they are part of a community with shared values about health and fitness. I am curious to find out to what extend these classes reflect larger cultural trends around health and identity.

Ethical Considerations: With the subject of health, identity and self image it is important to be careful because it can be sensitive topics. I will be careful to ensure that participants feel comfortable sharing their experiences, and I will protect their privacy by anonymizing any identifying information.

[Last modified: October, 1 2024 06:27 PM]

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