Hypermedia and the Future of Ethnography

摘要: In recent years cultural anthropologists have become increasingly self-conscious (and self-critical) about the nature of ethnography. We been forcefully made to confront assumptions that underlie our accounts other peoples, and pressed into a "reflexive" mode. According Marcus Fischer (1986) we are in period devoid paradigmatic concurrence, which "experimental ethnography" provides platform for most significant creative efforts. Indeed, array new styles presenting ethnographic is bewildering, those seeking comparative understandings, distressing. Given all concern has expressed finding innovative ways more satisfactorily present materials, it surprising how little attention paid media through understandings channeled. True, increasing effort put filmmaking past few years, often with remarkable results. Most us who teach anthropology, I presume, now use films supplement written ethnographies as way heightening students' interest by adding word vivid, visual account. But constraints ethnographies, remain center productive efforts, largely taken granted. It time, believe, lay bare limitations medium itself, take steps remove shackles imposed upon even finest A technology at disposal only seize opportunities provides. goes name "hypermedia," revolutionary implications If book formats place on were limiting earlier eras, times they severe. To begin with, production costs marketing considerations induced publishers restrict length books couple hundred pages, hardly enough include much data used construct accounts. Furthermore, this restriction just level complexity analysis quantum leap. need space than ever produce compelling The demand be marketable also led ethnographers explore literary may suitable mass audiences, but sacrifice