Only the essay portion, presentation will be included and all social media and websites are included in the presentation for more information.
INTRO
● PURPOSE of Study
● Observe the SPACE: who are the participants? what is your role? what is the ritual/healing
performance you’re observing and analyzing?
● Describe your INITIAL BIASES and perceptions before arriving at the fieldsite, how they
developed during the experience and, finally, how you felt after you left the fieldsite.
SETTING
● What is in the setting: alter, religious symbols, priest/healer, spatial layout, colors, smells, outside environment (neighborhood/area)?
● Include Layout & Photos Here METHODOLOGY
● Participant Observation: What did you do? How long?
● Who are the Participants – describe (age, sex, cultural/religious bacground); Use
pseudonymns
● Emic (Your own) Perspective / Etic (Participants’) Perspectives — what you’re trying to do
is observe and experience a unique setting, while being aware of your judgements. What is your method in doing so? Active listening? Note taking? Recording? Watching participants’ gestures? Go back to your field notes to review what you have found. Etic perspectives are contextual – do your research → note cultural/religious/political ideations, then note what you see is being performed
● Data Collection: how did you conduct this research? How did you approach participants? If you have tables, graphs, or questionnaires — place them under this section
● Interviews? Was the interview recorded? How did you take notes? How did you participate in the healing ritual?
ANALYSIS — THIS IS THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER
Use paragraphs. Use headlines, if needed. This is where you talk about the experience in detail.
Literature Review
Observations in detail
Answer the FOLLOWING questions
Tie your knowledge in with the REFERENCES from class Conclusion
● How is ILLNESS understood in this setting?
● How is illness TREATED? What is being done to the BODY? What is the BODY
EXPERIENCING?
● What is the concept of BODY & MIND / CONSCIOUSNESS / HEALING in this setting?
● What have you gained from this experience?
● Connect your site to the bigger picture, do some research. Is the site common in Long Beach/LA? Should it be? How does it help COMMUNITY? How does it hinder it?
● Most Importantly: What is the relevance of your fieldsite to the Anthropology of Health
and Healing? Reference lectures and at least 3 readings.
