We Don’t Need Another Hero

Yasmeen Arif

doi:10.26686/ce.v3i1.6651

Abstract

Ethnographic work occupies an uneasy spectrum of experiences, and in this timely discussion where ethnographic challenges are being given their rightful place – my arguments join the discussion by urging a slowing down, a stopping and taking stock about what counts as good work in our current professional environment. I attempt a reflection on immersed anthropologists, and in some ways, on those amongst whom we immerse. The base queries that animate these reflections are – who, what, where and how will ‘good’ anthropological work be decided. The curious fascination with heroic, ideologically driven, ‘difficult’ ethnography is a point of departure here. Once again, they lead to questions about the allocations of labor and power in ethnographic work and in disciplinary knowledge production practices.

Highlights

ABSTRACT | Ethnographic work occupies an uneasy spectrum of experiences, and in this timely discussion where ethnographic challenges are being given their rightful place – my arguments join the discussion by urging a slowing down, a stopping and taking stock about what counts as good work in our current professional environment
I We anthropologists, in recent times, have been surpassing ourselves - our methods, our aspirations, our limits and I am inclined to argue, our ethics as well. In this brief contribution to the “Trial by Fire” discussion, where serious ethnographic challenges are being given their rightful place – my arguments are from the other side of the mirror
I urge a slowing down, a stopping and taking stock about what counts as good work in our current professional environment

Summary

Introduction

ABSTRACT | Ethnographic work occupies an uneasy spectrum of experiences, and in this timely discussion where ethnographic challenges are being given their rightful place – my arguments join the discussion by urging a slowing down, a stopping and taking stock about what counts as good work in our current professional environment. The books and essays that are published, awarded and adulated are those that are about heroic, ideologically driven labors of intricate ethnographies that edge their way into forbidden worlds, dangerous geographies and ways of life which are often not ours, but are the ciphers of our curiosity and the terrains of our unconcealed gaze.

Results

Conclusion