Spring20Methods

Fieldworkers look to both verbal and nonverbal language to understand rules and meanings at their fieldsite Why study verbal language? verbal language brings nonverbal thoughts and ideas to the surface language can become the focal point of your research informants "voices" are most clearly transmitted through their verbal communication What do systems of communication reveal? solidarity and exclusion markers aspects unique to culture (jargon) symbolic systems within a culture the relationship between language and culture Nonverbal Communication: Body Language and Culture proxemics-use of and meaning of space kinesics-meaning of body movement and gesture microsignals-gaze (etc.) -unconsciouss small signals touch-meaning and use dress and adornments-meaning of chosen displayed symbols of identity tatoos dress hair piercings teeth makeup plastic surgery or other bodily "mutilations" Linking Words and Culture look for key wo

The Appearance That "No One Cares." said to lead to the downfall of social order (visible forms of social disorder) requires police (institutional) intervention into serious crime follows in such circumstances if a single broken window means no one cares, then people have licence to break more leads to an unrelenting campaign against the forces that were said to be diminishing the QUALITY OF LIFE for conventional city dwellers* *Crime in cities has diminished in the last four decades whether these policies were applied or not. FOUR INDECENT BEHAVIORS (of street vendors) TARGETED: public urination detaining residents in conversation selling stolen goods sleeping on sidewalks The Logic of the Habitat about 1/3 of the men working the sidewalks sleep outside instead of in inexpensive flop houses all the sustaining elements of the environment are there friends are out there and he feels safe and comfortable NOT a trade-off between drugs or a room sp

The Big Question: How Can We Reconcile Street Vending With Pedestrian-Friendly Sidewalks? Accra, Bangkok, Chennai, Lima, Manila, Nairobi | 04/01/2013 1:01pm INFORMAL CITY DIALOGUES They’re a critical pillar of the informal economy, but as street vendors multiply, the amount of sidewalk space available for pedestrians is shrinking. The issue of how to make room for such vendors — if at all — is becoming an urgent and controversial issue that cities must face. Below, three perspectives on how to equitably share the pavement. THE CITY OF THE FUTURE WILL BE A “MARKET CITY” BY ETHAN KENT How can cities keep their sidewalks pedestrian-friendly while still allowing informal street vendors to make a living? The negative perception of informal vending is an issue that plagues cities everywhere, but the successful integration of such vendors can add to the lifeblood of a thriving city. Unfortunately, many cities don’t have a vision of a positive role for vending. Around the wo

(Jacobs) The most habitable cities are those that feature a diversity of uses, ensuring that many people will be coming and going on the streets at any time. -respectable eyes dominate the streets and are fixed on strangers, who will then not get "out of hand." Not always true! more diverse and complex than what she describes varies as to denizens: time of day weekdays in West Village/White Upper Class Weekends: black and hispanic youth unhoused-all the time All intersect at some point in places like Washington Square used to be drug dealing central, but after cameras were installed by NYPD, drug dealing has moved to 8th street by the basketball coursts Every city has a DL (down low) section, where those who wants to test or exceed the limits of the social order go people are separated by great social and economic differences show both social solidarity and cohesion; as well as show tensions Structural Inequality and the demographics of the Sidewalk

"Stepping into the Worldview of Others" When we interview informants, we step into their worldview by stepping out of our own, we LISTEN CAREFULLY, but also notice the ARTIFACTS and MANNERISMS through which they express themselves and their identity. Good Interviewing is a collaboration between you and your informant, not very different from a friendly talk. skills: establishing rapport letting your informant drive the direction of the interview: digressing, topic changing, etc. listening carefully steering the interview in response to your informants' accounting THE INTERVIEW Expect the unexpected answer and follow its lead Work from your structured (prepared) questions (theory/assumptions) but listen carefully to answers to see where they go-BE FLEXIBLE It is our job to reveal our informants' perspectives and experiences rather than our own. ASKING QUESTIONS closed questions: answer is finite (don't ask too many) open questions: answer beg

New Communities? Cities of Tomorrow It's A Mall World (new public squares and consumerism)

Placemaking inspires people to collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of every community.  strengthens the connection between people and the places they share goal: maximize shared value  facilitating creative patterns of use paying particular attention to the physical, cultural, and social identities that define a place and support its ongoing evolution centered around community-based participation accesses and capitalizes on local community assists, inspiration, and potential results in the creation of quality public spaces that contribute to people's health, happiness and well being increases communities connection to the places that they live Encourages ordinary citizens to take ownership of the streets How much voice do community stakeholders usually have? institutionalization of planning processes have rarely allowed stakeholders a chance to voice their ideas. common problems traffic dominated streets little-used parks isolated

These are men who generally live on the streets (unhoused) and assist vendors in their work (with the exception of men who lay things out) Men without accounts DOORMEN: panhandlers outside banks and ATM machines never explicitly ask for money feel as though they are doing a service polite and gracious moved to written matter economy after Giulliani made this kind out work illegal SPOT HOLDER (competition for good table locations) cant maintain normal routine to have their own table often addicts think its degrading to look through trash consider themselves versatile consider begging an honest living-cant enter the formal economy VARIOUS ROLES SHOW HOW THE FORMAL SYSTEM OF MENTORING IS PART OF A LARGER SYSTEM OF INFORMAL SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL CONTROL -MAKES THE SIDEWALK A SAFER PLACE.-OUTLET FOR MEN TO SUPPORT DRUG ADDICTION RATHER THAN STEALING OR SELLING DRUGS Place Holder informal system governs property rights on the street may watch all night to e

What the hell do I do? I talk to people and directly elicit information. These questions are open ended and interviews can be hours long. This all has to be transcribed and analyzed. I go to performances and take fieldnotes, not just about the performance, but about the cultural scene in which the performance is enacted. This all must be transcribed. and analyzed. I note every aspect of a culture and what these objects and beliefs and behaviors are, and try to discern the MEANING and RULES behind them  I scour historical sources and interview people about culture history to try to contextualize a culture and look at their historical importance and evolution. (this has to be transcribed, interviews, sources, etc. and analyzed!)