The Chicago Guide to Collaborative Ethnography

by Luke Eric Lassiter

Collaboration between ethnographers and subjects has long been a product of the close, intimate relationships that define ethnographic research. But increasingly, collaboration is no longer viewed as merely a consequence of fieldwork; instead collaboration now preconditions and shapes research design as well as its dissemination. As a result, ethnographic subjects are shifting from being informants to being consultants. The emergence of collaborative ethnography highlights this relationship between consultant and ethnographer, moving it to center stage as a calculated part not only of fieldwork but also of the writing process itself.

The Chicago Guide to Collaborative Ethnography presents a historical, theoretical, and practice-oriented road map for this shift from incidental collaboration to a more conscious and explicit collaborative strategy. Luke Eric Lassiter charts the history of collaborative ethnography from its earliest implementation to its contemporary emergence in fields such as feminism, humanistic anthropology, and critical ethnography. On this historical and theoretical base, Lassiter outlines concrete steps for achieving a more deliberate and overt collaborative practice throughout the processes of fieldwork and writing. As a participatory action situated in the ethical commitments between ethnographers and consultants and focused on the co-construction of texts, collaborative ethnography, argues Lassiter, is among the most powerful ways to press ethnographic fieldwork and writing into the service of an applied and public scholarship.

A comprehensive and highly accessible handbook for ethnographers of all stripes, The Chicago Guide to Collaborative Ethnography will become a fixture in the development of a critical practice of anthropology, invaluable to both undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty alike.

Genres: Nonfiction, Anthropology, Research Methods, School, Academic, Folklore

201 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2005

Reviews

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished "The Chicago Guide to Collaborative Ethnography" written by anthropologist Luke Eric Lassiter. In it, Lassiter explores what is means to take a collaborative approach to ethnography. By working directly with those we study, we open the doors to new research and greater insight. It’s important for anthropology as a discipline to be reflective on the impacts of the work being produced as well as the privileged perspective researchers have by being an academic. By viewing our collaborators as co-intellectuals rather than merely informants we clear the way for their story to be properly told while upholding respect for their contributions. In addition, we can seek co-authorship as a way to directly engage with those we study, tasking them to take a more direct role in the research. This allows for meaningful diverse dialogue to be created. Also, by writing in a clear and accessible way we can then make our pieces available to those they are written about to ensure we are properly serving those we study. By being ethical, honest, accessible, and collaborative we can make anthropology more meaningful and impactful.