Improvising Theory: Process and Temporality in Ethnographic Fieldwork

by Allaine Cerwonka, Liisa H. Malkki

Scholars have long recognized that ethnographic method is bound up with the construction of theory in ways that are difficult to teach. The reason, Allaine Cerwonka and Liisa H. Malkki argue, is that ethnographic theorization is essentially improvisatory in nature, conducted in real time and in necessarily unpredictable social situations. In a unique account of, and critical reflection on, the process of theoretical improvisation in ethnographic research, they demonstrate how both objects of analysis, and our ways of knowing and explaining them, are created and discovered in the give and take of real life, in all its unpredictability and immediacy.

Improvising Theory centers on the year-long correspondence between Cerwonka, then a graduate student in political science conducting research in Australia, and her anthropologist mentor, Malkki. Through regular e-mail exchanges, Malkki attempted to teach Cerwonka, then new to the discipline, the basic tools and subtle intuition needed for anthropological fieldwork. The result is a strikingly original dissection of the processual ethics and politics of method in ethnography.

Genres: Anthropology, Ethnography, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Theory

203 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Megan Geer · Rating 5 out of 5]

INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE READ. This is the way I learn. I have notes scribbles in the margins of every page, countless sticky notes filled with connections i’ve made with the content and new questions that prompted me to start jotting down bullet points and points to explore.

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful - shows process of writing and thinking ethnographies -- also has a template for some of her writings including applications and fieldnotes.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having recently submitted an interdisciplinary PhD proposal with ethnography as a methodology I was interested in reading this book. Allaine Cerwonka's experience as a political scientist using ethnography for her PhD thesis was fascinating and raised important considerations. Lisa Malkki's important and interesting contributions added depth. Rather than simply being a dry academic text book this book is also deeply human and the honesty of both Lisa and Allaine in exploring what it means to be an ethnographic researcher, parent, and academic made it a superb read. I would 100% recommend this book.

[Sharifa Ahaja · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Nothing is ever fully realized, and you never say, ‘Well, this is it.’ You’re always on your way somewhere”—or as Don Pate put it, ‘otherwhere’”

thank you SA201W and elliott

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a useful book for young Anthropology students and for anyone who wants to get a grasp of what doing ethnographic research implies. The emails exchange can be, as some say, quite long and boresome, but the point of it being wholly included in the book is to strip the process of doing fieldwork of notions that tend to romanticize it.
What I liked most about it, is the introductory yet specialized manner various concepts in it are presented. While it displays a particular case of concerns regarding ethnographic methodology, the book also offers a plenty of references which can be further read or consulted as sources of rather generalized views on this topic.

[Daniele Panzeri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthropology thrives from a continuous dialogue between fieldwork and theory. Anthropology is not just the sum of the methods it uses. The process is never linear and based on the capacity of an anthropologist to improvise and find the right tools or instrument. This makes it similar to jazz, where improvising it is essential for its success.

[Lilly Irani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a really helpful glimpse into the inner world of what an advisor / student relationship can be, what working through ethnographic fieldwork collaboratively can look like, and how someone can survive the "high" theory and just getting through the day of anthropological work.

[Roxani]

There aren't a lot of books about ethnographic research that quote Joan Didion and Wynton Marsalis alongside Geertz. I was delighted by this book, in part because it's not 'here is how to do your anthropological research' direct methods instruction.

[Angela VandenBroek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent ethnographic look at the relationship between grad student and advisor and the realities of ethnographic fieldwork.

[Lu Liu]

right after reading it, i find, not without a shock, my writing style in emails to my advisors changed drastically... not sure if it's a good thing...