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Anthro-performance
Faye V. Harrison
Faye V. Harrison
Faye V. Harrison is a sociocultural anthropologist, who is specialised in studies of social inequalities, human rights and intersectionalism. She contributed to the history and politics of anthropology, with a special interest in African American and African diaspora studies (Faye V Harrison | African American Studies at Illinois, n.d.)
Harrison advanced the use of performative arts in the field of anthropology and has written influential works on this topic, most notably Three Women, One Struggle: Anthropology, Performance, and Pedagogy (Harrison, 1990).
Transforming Anthropology - January 1990 - Harrison - Three Women One Struggle Anthropology Performance and Pedagogy.pdfThree Women, One Struggle: Anthropology, Performance, and Pedagogy
Three Women, One Struggle: Anthropology, Performance, and Pedagogy
With the groundbreaking article Three Women, One Struggle: Anthropology, Performance, and Pedagogy (1990), Faye V. Harrison pushed the boundaries of the methods used in anthropology. She argues that the traditional ethnography does not embrace the diversity of culture and the interaction between race, class and gender. Importantly, the written word chiefly reaches scholars, while the reach of ethnography can be far wider. Her solution is the use of anthro-performance. She proposes using performative arts and literary techniques as ethnography.
Her article ends with three short stories, about three women, from three different backgrounds. These stories portray how Faye V. Harrison envisions that anthro-performance could work as ethnography and tell fictive stories that are more true than nonfiction.
Click on the image to view the article Three Women, One Struggle: Anthropology, Performance, and Pedagogy by Faye V. Harrison (1990).
New Methods
New Methods
What is anthro-performance exactly, and why should anthropologists use it?
What is anthro-performance exactly, and why should anthropologists use it?
Faye V. Harrison explains that the methods of anthropology and ethnography -the traditional, written ethnography- have fallen short. While these methods describe culture, they often fail to do justice to 'cultural expression' in all its hectic and suggestive ways. Most written accounts are focused on a linear story, while culture primarily consists of emotions and aesthetic expressions; things that are not easily translated into a linear story.
As a result, new methods that incorporate this 'expressiveness' are used. These methods often incorporate multiple media to create the ethnography, also referred to as multimodal media.
Anthro-performance also has its benefit in engaging with nonwestern scholars and people outside academia or who are not literate. These methods help with speaking to people in ways that do justice to the presented culture and are widely understood.
Examples of anthro-performance are:
Literary methods: a compelling and authentic picture of culture is painted by using writing styles that thoughtfully use literary techniques, such as metaphors and fictitious storylines. This method is criticised for often being linear in form, and not solving the debate around representation.
Theater, dance, music etcetera.: Performative arts are a compelling way to engage with culture in an approach that stands close to the culture itself.
Film: Ethnographic methods that include film techniques, such as documentaries or cinéma vérité, are useful to bring culture to life. Even fiction films can play a role in the creation of ethnographies. As with literary techniques, films are often criticised for being too linear and not fully solving the problem with presenting culture.
Self-reflexivity: Anthro-performance is always self-reflexive, meaning that the ethnographer conveys that they are aware of their position in creating the ethnography. Also: see the page on James Clifford and partial truths.
These solutions help to engage with culture and present it in unique ways. Besides that, these methods offer the opportunity to make ethnographies available for anyone who owns a smartphone and has an internet connection.
Below are some examples of anthro-performance.
Anthro-performance: examples
Anthro-performance: examples
Hamilton - The Room Where it Happens
Hamilton - The Room Where it Happens
The broadway show Hamilton (‘The Room Where It Happens’ Clip | Hamilton | Disney+, 2020) mixes the story of the United States' founding fathers with a critical analysis of race and gender that is both historical and relevant.
In this particular scene, it is made clear that there is not a single objective truth to its story, but different ones depending on who tells it.
Click on the 'play' icon to view The Room Where it Happens (|Hamilton|Disney+, 2020).
A Thrice Told Tale
A Thrice Told Tale
In this Ethnography, Margery Wolf (1992) tells the story from her fieldwork in Taiwan in three different ways:
As the story that Wolf assembled from her field notes.
As a fictionalised story.
By presenting her fieldnotes from several days of her research.
Click on the image to view the book A Thrice Told Tale by Margery Wolf (1992)
Margery Wolf - A Thrice-Told Tale_ Feminism, Postmodernism, and Ethnographic Responsibility (1992) (2).pdfChronicle of a Summer
Chronicle of a Summer
Chronicle of a Summer (Jean Rouch, 1961 --- Full Movie. (2020, December 18). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct-49TYmzMg) is a documentary made by anthropologist Jean Rouche and sociologist Edgar Morin. It is an early example of cinéma vérité, or 'truth cinema'. This is a style of filming that shows people in everyday situations without the use of a script.
In this particular film, the makers led Parisians to discus topics on French society and happiness of the working class. At the end they ask the participants if they think the film accurately portrays their reality. So, this style of filmmaking is thoroughly self-reflexive, more so than the traditional documentary.
Click on the 'play' icon to view Chronicle of a Summer (Jean Rouch, 1961 --- Full Movie. (2020, December 18). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct-49TYmzMg)
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