A Trio of Ethnography With a Side of Psychedelics

A Trio of Ethnography

with a side of Psychedelics Kerry Rowberry 2014

Presentation overview • Brief understanding of my PhD project • What is ethnography?

• Different forms of ethnography • Traditional ethnography • Auto-ethnography • Visual Ethnography • Why a trio?

Amazonian Shamanism in Britain • Shamanism is a global phenomenon usually associated with archaic, tribal cultures. It combines religion, community governance and healing. • Each culture has its own idiosyncratic version of shamanism, and while difficult to define shared themes to occur. These are: • XXXX insert. • Amazonian shamanism makes use of the local plants and animals at its disposal. One of the prominent practices found is the use of ayahuasca. A potent psychedelic brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the psychotria viridis or chacruna leaf. • The use of ayahuasca has migrated to Britain mainly which may be attributed to shamanic tourism and two syncretic religions that have formed around the use of ayahuasca; The Santo Daime and União do Vegetal.

Banisteriopsis caapi

Prepared Banisteriopsis caapi

Wild psychitoria viridis aka Chacruna

Brewing ayahuasca

Other migrating practices • Kambo treatment • Chewed salvia divinorum

• Rapê

Why? • Fantastic therapeutic potential. • Potential human rights violations. • Diverse subject. • Will to inform people about these practices. • A wish to give the community representation.

Ethnography A three course investigation

Ethnography is… • A branch of anthropology specifically focused on understanding cultural groups. • This could be specific to a geographic area, although contemporary ethnographies take place in a variety of settings. Workplace culture, for instance Nursing and Social Work are popular areas. We may also consider difference socio-economic groups, syncretic or combined cultures, transient cultures such asylum seekers and so on.

Types of Ethnography • Traditional ethnography • Auto-ethnography • Reception ethnography • Feminist ethnography • Postmodern ethnography

• Global ethnography • Institutional ethnography • Visual ethnography

(Gobo, 2008)

Traditional Ethnography • Popularised by the University of Chicago and the Chicago School of Ethnography particularly between 1917 and 1942 (Deegan, 2001) • The ethnographic method gives priority to observation as its primary source of information. (Gobo, 2008) Although it is rare to find non-participant observation in modern ethnographies. • Observations are usually backed up with other sources such as ‘informal or group interviews and documentary materials (diaries, letters, class essays, organizational documents..)’ (Gobo, 2008) • Before the advent of the ethnographic methodology, anthropologists examined statistics, government and mission archive documents, traveler accounts, archeological finds and such like (Gobo, 2008)

Strengths of Traditional Ethnography • Draws on multiple diverse sources of information. • Constantly refining itself as it moves further away from its colonial roots. From non-participant observation, to participant observation and more recently insider or native research. • It allows for understanding through experience. • The participants cease being a subject under study and become part of the researchers life for the duration of the field work (at least).

Issues with Traditional Ethnography • It is impossible for the researcher to not bring personal bias to the project, though this should be acknowledged and minimized where possible. • It is difficult for the researcher not to transpose their ideas onto the data. • It is difficult to readdress items that may emerge from the data once the fieldwork is completed. • It can be expensive, and opportunities for exotic field work are rare.

• Field work can take the researcher away from their family for any length of time.

Auto-Ethnography • Much like an auto-biography, an auto-ethnography is about the researcher. However, there is a specific focus on the researchers cultural experiences, and understanding.

• There is no formulae to how a an ethnography should look. • It grew out of ‘a concern about usurping participant’s rights to selfdefinition.’ (Murphy and Dingwall, 2001)

Strengths of Auto-Ethnography • There are no filters of interpretation. • The author is able to shape the ethnography and decide what is and is not important to represent. • It offers an opportunity to provide information about the researchers ‘lived, emotional experience.’ as opposed to dispassionate descriptive accounts. (Emerson et al, 2001)

• It allows for self-disclosure.

Issues with Auto-Ethnography

• It’s just one person’s story.

Visual Ethnography • Visual ethnography is the ‘integration of the documentary methodology with ethnographic methodology. Ethnographies are conducted using visual media (photographs and film clips),also in order to document the analysis more graphically.’ (Gobo, 2008) • It can go beyond documentation and use of photographs and video. Visual ethnography include the use of creative medium such as paintings, drawings, diagrams etc.

Strengths of Visual Ethnography • A picture speaks 1000 words. • It can be empowering. Images and art can be created by participants as well as the researcher. • It can provide interesting and engaging presentations increasing the researches impact. • Researcher might be pushed to be more creative and innovative.

Issues with Visual Ethnography • You are relying on the participant producing material that can be useful. • Analysis reaches an even higher level of interpretation than is usually associated with qualitative research. Misunderstanding, transposition and misrepresentation are particular issues with this. • If working with cultures without literacy you may be in breach of ‘the prime directive’. Will introducing new technology effect the natural direction of the group? • It’s intrusive. • People tend to act differently around cameras.

Why a trio?

Why a trio? • Triangulation. • Provides opportunity to maximize on the strengths of the different approaches and minimise the issues.

Images used: All accessed between 01-03 July 2014 Rainbow cake: http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/63/ed/ef/63edef5fe8490cca8a0c50588717939e.jpg (accessed 01.07.14) Lemon Mouse Photography courtesy Gotham Bar and Grill http://d1xejl9xcsndu9.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/hautecuisine.jpg 'Varqui Crab And Scallops' Claire O'Neill/NPR http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2011/03/16/crab_custom-a33a2cb913e6011e8e6c61e8e153b2c274d656ee-s2-c85.jpg Scallops http://www.greatmindslearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/french-food.jpg Banisteriopsis Caapi Vine http://www.ayahuascaassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/AyaVineGood.jpg Caapi crushed http://www.botanicalspirit.com/catalogues/409/red_caapi_001_800.jpg Wild Chacruna http://icarosdna.com/images/DCP_0453.jpg Ayahuasca Brewing http://www.psychointegrator.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/ayahuasca-4.jpg Kambo application http://kambo-healing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/kambo2.jpg Phylomedusa Bicolour http://www.onirogenia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/kambo.jpg Three Musketeers http://www.cms2cms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/the-three-musketeers-herbert-renard.jpg Baby http://www.wired.com/geekdad/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/bellybutton.jpg Tribesman with camera http://yhelteljel.ee/wp-content/gallery/aafrika-ja-lahis-ida/MV_01_010_2.jpg Triangles http://www.abstract-art.com/robertson/ro0_mark_robinson_images/rt1_triangles_walls.jpg

Text used: ATKINSON, P. et al (2002) Handbook of Ethnography. 2nd Edn. Wiltshire: SAGE Publications Ltd. GOBO, G. (2008) Doing Ethnography. Wiltshire: SAGE Publications Ltd. SEAL, C. (2004) Researching Society and Culture. 2nd Edn. Oxford: SAGE Publications Ltd. TAYLOR, S. (2002) Ethnographic Research; A Reader. Devon: SAGE Publications Ltd.