Workshops convened by Prof Keir Martin (University of Oslo) & Dr James Davies (University of Roehampton, London).
About the course
As emotion is often linked with irrationality, it's no surprise that many social science researchers tend to underreport the emotions they experience in the field. However, denying emotion altogether doesn't necessarily lead to better research. Methods cannot function independently from the personalities wielding them, and so it is critical that we as anthropologists tackle the tendency to underplay the scientific, personal, and political consequences of the emotional dimensions of fieldwork.
This workshop will explore recent research showing that emotion is not antithetical to thought or reason, but is instead an untapped source of insight that can complement more traditional methods of anthropological knowing and research.
In our workshop groups, we shall together explore how a new, re-humanized methodological framework can enable certain reactions and experiences evoked by the field to be translated into meaningful data (when treated with the intellectual rigor empirical work demands). In this workshop, participants will be asked to reflect upon their own experiences in the field, so as to explore the ways in which such experiences may be uncovered as heuristically and analytically meaningful, deepening insight into the life worlds of those we aspire to learn and understand.
Obligatory preparations
Participants will be required to undertake some preparatory reading on affective field methodology. Additionally, they will be asked to prepare a 2-page account of an emotionally impactful field experience to share and analyse with other members of the workshop. The aim of this practical will be explore the ways in which the analysis of affective fieldwork experience may generate insights of anthropological and methodological importance. The reading and outcome of the practical will help inform the final piece of written work to be submitted.
Examination
Within two months after the course, participants submit their written essay for evaluation. Essay length: 3-4000 Words +/- 10 percent, including footnotes.
Full participation (and pass) equals 5 credits.
The essay will show reflection on the themes discussed in the workshop and engagement with ideas taken from the full reading list.
You may part take in the course without submitting an essay without being awarded the 5 credits. Please inform the Department when you apply if you wish to participate in the course without submitting an essay.
Admission
This course is open to PhD candidates in anthropology and other related fields where fieldwork is used.
Application deadline: 1 August 2024
Candidates on the PhD programme track in social anthropology should sign up in Studentweb. Other candidates may apply by sending an email to post@sai.uio.no.
Please include
- a short CV
- Institutional affilitation
- abstract of thesis or chapter (300 Words)
Readings
A full list of readings will be available by August.