Pink Part I – Thinking about Visual Research

In her introduction, Pink gives a brief overview of discussions that have taken place regarding the role of film and photography in ethnographic research. She explains the evolution of thought from a stance of irrelevance, to an objectified tool, to a more subjective component of ethnography.

Throughout the introduction and Part I, Pink promotes a participatory or collaborative approach, similar to Chaplin’s “visual sociology” (p. 11). Pink shows how issues of ethics should encourage researchers typically to choose such collaboration (she does however concede that each research scenario is different and thus photography and film should be used as most appropriate).

Although Pink addresses the following questions, I think they would make for good discussion questions about “doing visual ethnography:”

1. Can reality be observed and recorded? Why or why not?
2. If something is visible is it true? Explain your thoughts.
3. Can objective information be extrapolated from the observation or recording of participants? Why or why not?

*Paraphrased (p. 23)

I thought the point Pink makes regarding subjectivity and tendency to value ethical codes of conduct differently is essential to all researchers interested in ethnography; it was also a point emphatically addressed in the training I went to for teaching overseas. I liked how Pink used Rapport’s guide, and think we all would find it useful in the case of evaluating a cultural practice. Furthermore, it is very important that an ethnographer takes time to try to uncover “local notions of harm and anxiety” (p. 42).

Lastly, as ethnographers, I think it is important, as Pink said, to reflect on how we bring both our personal and professional views to any study, and to incorporate how participants might perceive us. This idea again reminds me of Steve McCurray’s work as a photographer for National Geographic. You can read about the Afgan women I mentioned in class last week at the link attached to his name.

You can read about the Afghan woman I mentioned in class last week at the link attached to his name, or at least see 2 contrasting pictures of her I attached to this post.

-Tasha