Fieldwork seminar: Fieldwork in the Humanities - November 2013

Fieldwork in the Humanities 

Fieldwork is at the core of many of the PhD projects at ToRS and a productive period ’in the field’ is crucial for a successful thesis. The time allowed for fieldwork is, however, limited and it is therefore of importance to have an opportunity to discuss plans and alternatives, to be able to share experiences after coming back from fieldwork and to have response on drafts of analysis when the thesis text is about to take shape.

We would therefore like to introduce a series of regular PhD seminars at ToRS on the uses of fieldwork in the humanities. During the seminars there will be an opportunity to present texts (plans, reports, drafts of analysis), discuss and scrutinize various methods for fieldwork – and report experiences as well as discuss theoretical reflections on fieldwork as a method. Fieldwork can be conducted in a number of ways and from very different analytical perspectives; many of them at work in various ToRS projects. The purpose of the seminars is not to streamline your projects, but to open up a forum for discussions about how to plan a fieldwork and still be flexible, choices of documentation, follow-up and where to draw the line. In short: share and learn from others; from tentative research questions to submission of a thesis based on fieldwork.

Some of the issues that will be discussed during the seminars:

– designing a fieldwork plan and preparing for surprises and change of plans

– the relation between research questions and choice of field method

– documentation: technique, ethics and archiving

– follow-up and processual analysis

– combining fieldwork material(s) with other sources

– combining fieldwork material(s) with historical studies

– literature on fieldwork

It is strongly recommended that those of you who use fieldwork material in your thesis continuously take active part in these seminars. The seminars are intended to be a platform for discussions for every stage of fieldwork and for fieldwork in the broadest understanding of the concept. Archaeological, archival, literary and political angles are more than welcome.

Each seminar has a theme and literature (ca 50 pages) will be circulated beforehand as a preparation for the discussions. At each seminar will also one, or more PhD, candidate(s) present a piece from her/his on-going work.

ECTS: 1,8 for paper presentation and 0,3 for active participation.

The seminars are chaired by Catharina Raudvere and Esther Fihl.

For the fall of 2013 are two seminars planned (and one for January 2014):

22 November 1.15pm in room 10.2.05:
Fieldwork Methods. Potentials and Limits
The seminar will focus on questions like: What does it mean to observe, participate, interview, register and make a survey? How it your site of fieldwork located in relation to your initial research questions? How to prepare for and deal with changes in the field?

Marie Ørum Wikman will present plans for her up-coming fieldwork.

Reading requirements: ca 50 pages. Two academic articles with perspectives on the theme will be circulated in the beginning of November. 

Seminar in January 2014 TBA.