¿Etnógrafos amateurs? Itinerarios, obras y subjetividades en contacto con la antropología en la Argentina (c. 1920 –1960)

Abstract

This article problematizes the notion of amateur ethnographers (and ethnography) accordant with the new interest in exploring the margins of institutions of knowledge and the networks between established professionals and other actors linked to Anthropology, especially in Argentina. We compare the trajectories of the Swede Mauricio Jesperson and the German Luis Ruez between 1920 and 1960 and their respective productions on the Pilagá of the Chaco, and about the Rankülche in La Pampa and the Mbyá-guaraní in Misiones. We focus on the multiple meshworks of contact which entwine their practices, works, and subjectivities. Likewise, we analyze the interethnic situation, the circulation and formats of their works, its content and textual style and, last but not least, their relations with institutions, especially with the anthropological academia of the time. We seek to highlight in a historical key how the figure of amateur ethnographers varies, needs to be contextually understood, and brings about new practices and products.