The Spatial Gaze: the act of Seeing: Field-writing Assignment

"Gaze is the act of seeing; it is an act of selective perception. Much of what we see is shaped by our experiences, and our "gaze" has a direct bearing on what we think. And what we see and think, to take the process one step further, has a bearing upon what we say and what and how we write ."
--Paul Stoller

Spatial gaze is the fieldworker's stance and worldview. In the field we must do the following things to give comprehensive attention and description to the importance of space:
  • how to look at your fieldsite
  • detailing and mapping space
  • finding unity and tension within a place
    • tension is revealed in the moments of contradiction when multiple or opposing perspectives collide
  • locating a focal point (finding a perspective from which to describe your fieldsite)
Personal Geographies (sense of place) influence our spatial gaze, how we look.
  • factors influencing gaze may not always be in our awareness
  • (Jamica Kincaid's writing in text)-enormous influence of English culture on her growing up and gaze in Jamaica
Selective Perception
  • letting your eye rest on things locals do (as insiders)
  • methods
    • outside to inside: begin with a large, sweeping description of the fieldsite landscape and move inside to important details you will "rest" on.
    • questions which reveal selective perception (ethnocentric gaze):
      • why do i focus on this element and not that?
      • what is my reason for narrowing my gaze to any specific place?
      • what spaces have i rejected when narrowing?
      • Why do i use the metaphors and descriptions that i do?
      • which metaphors and descriptives did i abandon as inappropriate?
      • where in my fieldnotes do i find evidence for this description?
      • what have i rejected and why?
    • dont rely only on visual cues:
      • sound
      • tastes
      • textures
      • smells
      • light, shapes, time, season, weather, atmosphere, etc.
Writing about perceptions
  • Nouns
    • a focal point is often a noun that recurs, provides a starting point for understanding the fieldsite, provides a metaphor (acts as a generalizing symbol) for your fieldsite. 
    • a place from which you might logically elaborate on your fieldsite (tell its story)
    • ex: NY Ave. as the nexus of gay culture (even though the gay section of AC was the area surrounding NY Ave.)
    • look for vocabulary specific to your fieldsite
  • Verbs
    • bring action to your fieldsite
    • look for exactly the right verbs to describe the activities taking place
    • look for precision and active voice
    • so, use ACTIVE (not passive) verbs
  • Adjectives and adverbs
    • cultural assumptions can hide inside adjectives and adverbs!
      • qualifying words contain value judgements and are not verifiable
      • leave most of them out and just describe what you see, hear, taste, smell...through your SENSES rather than draw conclusions
Colonized spaces:
    • when people inhabit spaces over which they have no control.
    • when researchers don't adopt the informants perspective
    • when researchers write about a culture from their own privileged gaze, 
    • when ethnographers fail to use the informants voice in the writing process
      • seen in situations of urban blight
      • seen in situations of gentrification
So, what are the characteristics of a Great Public Space?
  • Promotes human contact and social activities.
  • Is safe, welcoming, and accommodating for all users.
  • Has design and architectural features that are visually interesting.
  • Promotes community involvement.
  • Reflects the local culture or history.
  • Relates well to bordering uses.
  • Is well maintained.
  • Has a unique or special character.
Ongoing Field-writing:

  • continue to work on your mapping assignment
    • return to your fieldsite and take pictures from every angle you can.
    • try to record the details of the place, looking for things you may have overlooked
    • Notice your other senses and record the information you get through them
    • rework your map, looking for "FOCAL POINT(S)" at your fieldsite
    • keep a running narrative of the events and meanings of symbols/objects/action that take place at your filedsite


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