Ethnographic Writing about American Culture
Annual Review of Anthropology
Vol. 21: 205-229 (Volume publication date October 1992)
Michael Moffatt
In lieu of an abstract, the publisher reproduces the first page of the article. (Link)


Letters to My Tutor…. (Fiction writing to aid learning)

My dearest Simone,

When I chose to read “Ethnographic Writing about American Culture” I had forgotten that I didn’t have a copy your American travel journal, America Day by Day. It was out at the library when I last went. I’ve only just now remembered that I had forgotten that. I’m sure I’ll revisit this review and others as I read your work.

Reading Michael Moffatt I was reminded of a favored childhood pastime. Moffatt writes briefly about considerations involved when anthropologists study at home, noting that while familiarity may allow for greater access to and openness from informants, it also limits objectivity and creates blind spots. This brought to mind to me how children are often painfully aware of the workings of culture. Childhood concerns with issues of fairness, often spotlight times when cultural requirements diverge from truth and practicality. Leaves me wondering whether children’s perspectives might offset whatever it is that adult ethnographers lack when studying at home. I loved testing some of the requirements and constraints of small talk and casual conversation as a child.

Take for example, “How are you?” as a greeting. Tone and manner and differences in word stress on the part of the asker often gave clear indicators of the type of response expected. The typical response was, “I’m fine. How are you?” Imagine the little kid saying, “But you were just crying a minute ago…” Anyway, the asker might, for example, elongate and stress the word “are” to indicate familiarity with a recent situation, such as the respondent’s new job or recent childbirth experience–How aaarrrrreeeee you–eliciting more specific and personal responses such as “I’m fine, but tired,” or “I’m getting used to all the new things at work.” Sometimes the asker would leave a bit of ambiguity in the tone and manner of the “How are you?” in order to gauge how the respondent viewed the intimacy level of their relationship by using the intimacy/detail level of the response. These variances that generally melt into the background for adults are often confusingly obvious to children.

Sometimes I would answer in a manner different than expected just to note the response. Childhood is the perfect time for such things because you’re granted a wider margin. Like many children I detested small talk and thinking of the whole enterprise as a chance for careful observation was the only thing that made it bearable. My memory is that people often seemed starved for intimacy and generally appreciated a more open, and personal response even times when they reacted negatively.

Hmm, I’ll stop there at the moment. I have some work to finish before bed. Will continue talk of America and Americans after reading your book. I didn’t just recommend some new form of child labor, did I?

Thanks for your patience,
S.