Autoethnography mixes ethnography and autobiography. Researchers examine how own identities, views, and experiences impact their perception of social phenomena in autoethnography. It requires a critical analysis of one's own experiences in social, cultural, and historical contexts. By exploring subjective experiences, autoethnography can illuminate individual viewpoints and society challenges. It combines personal reflection and intellectual research by composing memoirs or narratives with scholarly analysis. (Ellis, Adams and Bochner, 2010)
As I hadn’t started my critical analysis yet, I decided to start researching into autoethnography as this was the method I was going to use for my Report. I wasn’t sure yet of how to structure the report but I wanted to look into examples of autoethnography and if there were any in my field of research to do with anhedonia and film spectatorship. I wanted to study the language and lexical approach they took to their research.
After desperately scouring the internet for research papers that involved autoethnography, film spectatorship and anhedonia, it became apparent that I had chosen quite a niche subject and couldn’t really find any papers relevant to my topic area I did however find papers that were related to each topic separately although this wasn’t entirely helpful and so I decided instead to research into how autoethnographies are structured.
The website "Ethnography Made Easy" (Anon, n.d.) provides guidance on how to conduct autoethnography, a research method that combines personal narrative with ethnographic observation. Specifically, the page offers insights into structuring an autoethnography. It suggests several key components to include:
Introduction: Introduce the topic of your autoethnography and provide context for your personal experiences within a broader cultural or social context.
Literature Review: Review existing literature related to your topic to contextualize your personal experiences and provide theoretical frameworks for analysis.
Methods: Describe the methods used in your autoethnographic research, including how data was collected and analyzed.
Findings: Present your findings, which may include personal reflections, anecdotes, and observations, and discuss their significance within the broader context of your research topic.
Discussion: Reflect on the implications of your findings and discuss their relevance to understanding the cultural or social phenomenon under study.
Conclusion: Summarize the key points of your autoethnography and discuss any implications for future research or action.
Overall, the website provides a structured approach to organizing and presenting an autoethnographic study, guiding you through the process of integrating personal experiences with academic analysis.
I found this explanation to be the most helpful as I had no idea how to structure an autoethnography, I had scoured the internet looking at papers but not only were they lengthy, they weren’t really related to my research and I wasn’t able to gauge the structure well. This website gave me a comprehensive breakdown of how to structure my paper and what I should include.
Language
I looked into the types of language you could use to approach and autoethnography and I found that autoethnography allows the researcher to examine their own experiences in the context of a larger culture. Autoethnography requires introspective language, therefore it should be reflective, subjective, and very personal.
First-person narrative: A first-person perspective is commonly used in autoethnography, which enables the researcher to interact with the subject's experiences and feelings up close. The personal aspect of the research can be communicated and a feeling of connection between the researcher and the reader can be developed by using "I" statements.
The use of descriptive language is essential for evoking experiences and environments with vivid detail. A deeper comprehension of the cultural setting under study can be achieved by drawing the reader into the researcher's world through the use of sensory details such sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and textures.
Expression of emotion: Autoethnography frequently explores the researcher's feelings in relation to their experiences. It is possible to humanise the study process and communicate the complexity of cultural phenomena by expressing emotions such as happiness, sorrow, perplexity, enthusiasm, or frustration. To preserve academic rigour, it is crucial to find a balance between analytical thought and emotive expression.
Reflexivity: Throughout the study process, reflexivity entails critically analysing one's own positionality, biases, and preconceptions. Autoethnographic study requires language that recognises the subjectivity of the researcher as well as the impact of their identity, background, and social situation. Readers can better understand the researcher's interpretations and insights thanks to this self-awareness.
Through the lens of personal experience, autoethnography aims to illuminate broader cultural patterns and processes. Language should be sensitive tocultural nuances, customs, and interpretations to offer a deeper understanding of how personal experiences intersect with broader sociocultural trends. Providing the reader with some context and cultural insights can enhance their understanding of the research findings.
Emotive, and reflective language in autoethnography invites readers to embark with the researcher on a journey of self-discovery and cultural investigation. Through using subjectivity, emotionality, and reflexivity, autoethnographers can shed light on the intricacies of the human condition and make a valuable contribution to wider discussions around culture, identity, and society. (Ellingson and Ellis, 2008)
The use of descriptive language is essential for evoking experiences and environments with vivid detail. A deeper comprehension of the cultural setting under study can be achieved by drawing the reader into the researcher's world through the use of sensory details such sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and textures.
Expression of emotion: Autoethnography frequently explores the researcher's feelings in relation to their experiences. It is possible to humanise the study process and communicate the complexity of cultural phenomena by expressing emotions such as happiness, sorrow, perplexity, enthusiasm, or frustration. To preserve academic rigour, it is crucial to find a balance between analytical thought and emotive expression.
Reflexivity: Throughout the study process, reflexivity entails critically analysing one's own positionality, biases, and preconceptions. Autoethnographic study requires language that recognises the subjectivity of the researcher as well as the impact of their identity, background, and social situation. Readers can better understand the researcher's interpretations and insights thanks to this self-awareness.
Through the lens of personal experience, autoethnography aims to illuminate broader cultural patterns and processes. Language should be sensitive tocultural nuances, customs, and interpretations to offer a deeper understanding of how personal experiences intersect with broader sociocultural trends. Providing the reader with some context and cultural insights can enhance their understanding of the research findings.
Emotive, and reflective language in autoethnography invites readers to embark with the researcher on a journey of self-discovery and cultural investigation. Through using subjectivity, emotionality, and reflexivity, autoethnographers can shed light on the intricacies of the human condition and make a valuable contribution to wider discussions around culture, identity, and society. (Ellingson and Ellis, 2008)
References
Ellis, C., Adams, T.E. and Bochner, A.P. (2010). Autoethnography: An Overview. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, [online] 12(1). Available at: https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/1589/3095.
Anon, (n.d.). Autoethnography | Ethnography Made Easy OER. [online] Available at: https://ethnographymadeeasy.commons.gc.cuny.edu/autoethnography/#:~:text=The%20structure%20of%20your%20autoethnography.
Ellingson, L. and Ellis, C. (2008). Autoethnography as Constructionist Project. Women’s and Gender Studies. [online] Available at: https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/gender/34/.