The ethnographic novel as activist mode of existence: translating the field with homeless people and beyond

Lancione, Michele ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9018-3562 2017. The ethnographic novel as activist mode of existence: translating the field with homeless people and beyond. Social and Cultural Geography 18 (7) , pp. 994-1015. 10.1080/14649365.2016.1231336

Preview

PDF - Accepted Post-Print Version Download (414kB) | Preview

Abstract

The paper argues in favor of creative methodologies as tool for relevant academic praxis. It provides the analysis of a concrete case in which a non-academic text - a composite book made of a participant’s introduction, an ethnographic novel, 21 graphic illustrations and a political essay - allowed for a meaningful re-appropriation of a fieldwork with homeless people in Italy. Such re-appropriation is understood and theorized as a research-activist 'mode of existence', namely as a way to use creative methodologies to pursue active and emancipatory engagement with vulnerable groups. The paper analyses this 'mode of existence' as a process made of several 'translations', or orientation toward the same interests, and it clearly shows the role of non-human agencies in their unfolding. Through its more-than-human narrative, the paper provided an innovative contribution to debates on research-activism and a new reflection on how to engage meaningfully with vulnerable groups. The conclusion highlights areas of improvement to further strengthen the activist-research mode of existence presented in the paper.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Translation, Creative methods, Ethnographic fiction, Homelessness, Mode of existence, Activism
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis
ISSN:	1464-9365
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	27 September 2016
Date of Acceptance:	21 July 2016
Last Modified:	28 Nov 2024 08:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/94937

Citation Data

Cited 7 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item