Essays on Ethnography

The post-Reconstruction paradigm of the mid-twentieth century West gave rise to a body of literature in which wordsmiths from marginalized castes penned compositions that highlighted the pervasive institutional inequities of their respective social microcosms. Beget of this period of civil dissension, “Everyday Use” by Alice…

Alo Yoga, an athletic performance brand, sells high-end athleisure and accessories. Founded in 2007 as a California-based apparel line for yoga enthusiasts, Alo Yoga quickly established itself with a reputation for well-made clothing, in addition to a strong interest in their clientele’s personal exercise-related growth….

Adam Ashforth’s ethnography, Madumo, A man Bewitched, follows the struggle of Madumo, a close friend of Ashforth’s, through his quest to rid himself of the witchcraft he believes has cursed him ever since the death of his mother. Throughout the ethnography, Ashforth discusses with Madumo,…

Gardner began filmmaking on The Hunters which was criticized for promoting a Western fantasy of hunter-gatherers. Margaret Mead warned Gardner of the dangers of making a film around warfare. Her words were ‘prophetic as rumors spread Gardner was provoking warfare to film it.’ Gardner was…

Dead Birds (Gardner 1963) is a well-known, yet critiqued ethnographic film depicting the Dani Culture. Robert Gardner aimed to reflect reality, but his methods have attracted criticism of ignoring ethnographic conventions namely; emphasizing rituals to appeal to Westerner’s, controlling narrative, post-production alterations and off-camera narration….