El antropólogo o el «extranjero familiar» sobre el terreno. Entre comodidad, incomodidad y riesgos
El antropólogo o el «extranjero familiar» sobre el terreno. Entre comodidad, incomodidad y riesgos
Authors
Boullosa - Joly, Maité
Authors
Date
2014-09-07
Datos de publicación:
Cultura - Hombre - Sociedad CUHSO, Vol 23, N°2, 175-198, 2013
Keywords
Noroeste argentino - Etnografía - Metodología - Reivindicaciones de identidad - Alta montaña.
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Abstract
La figura del «extranjero» descrita por Goerg Simmel puede ser
transferible a la posición del etnólogo sobre el terreno, quien se vuelve progresivamente
el «extranjero familiar» para sus anfitriones (Simmel, 1999:
663). A través de mi experiencia de investigación, analizaré la manera en
que yo me convertí en una extranjera cada vez más familiar y como me introduje
progresivamente en las interrelaciones locales cuyo objetivo para mí
era comprender. Ser extranjero puede representar una comodidad en ciertos
contextos, pero también una incomodidad, incluso un peligro a veces cuando
se usa como chivo expiatorio. ¿Pariente, turista o espía? Son diferentes
estatus que tuve que asumir en contextos de observación diversificados al
interior de dos pueblos del Noroeste argentino: la alta montaña, un pueblo
turístico y organizaciones militantes. Después de haber analizado el estatus
de extranjero familiar que puede tener el antropólogo, en este artículo haré
el relato de mis «inmersiones» en estos diferentes lugares y mostrar que mi
posición puede ser reveladora de las relaciones sociales que afectaban cada
universo. Las imágenes fotográficas tomadas in situ, serán utilizadas como
sujeto de análisis; ellas formalizan la mirada y la relación del investigador con respecto al sujeto que observa (Conord, 1992; Piette, 1992). Éstas son
significativas de la mirada mutua que nos dirigíamos con mis anfitriones y
de la posición que me era asignada.
The figure of the «stranger» described by Georg Simmel may be transferable to the position of the ethnologist in the field, who gradually becomes the «familiar stranger» to his/her hosts (Simmel, 1999: 663). Through my research experience, I will analyse how I became an increasingly familiar stranger and how I gradually introduced myself into the local inter-relations which it was my object to understand. Being a stranger may be comfortable in certain contexts, but it may also be uncomfortable and even dangerous at times if one becomes a scapegoat. Relative, tourist or spy? These were different statuses that I had to assume in various observation contexts among the peoples of north-west Argentina: the high mountains, a tourist village and militant organisations. After analysing the status of the familiar stranger which the anthropologist may assume, in this article I will recount my «immersions» in these different places and show that my position may help to reveal the social relations which affected each universe. The photographs taken on site will be analysed; they formalise the investigator’s view of and relation with the subject observed (Conord, 1992; Piette, 1992). They are significant of the mutual watchfulness between my hosts and myself, and of the position assigned to me.
The figure of the «stranger» described by Georg Simmel may be transferable to the position of the ethnologist in the field, who gradually becomes the «familiar stranger» to his/her hosts (Simmel, 1999: 663). Through my research experience, I will analyse how I became an increasingly familiar stranger and how I gradually introduced myself into the local inter-relations which it was my object to understand. Being a stranger may be comfortable in certain contexts, but it may also be uncomfortable and even dangerous at times if one becomes a scapegoat. Relative, tourist or spy? These were different statuses that I had to assume in various observation contexts among the peoples of north-west Argentina: the high mountains, a tourist village and militant organisations. After analysing the status of the familiar stranger which the anthropologist may assume, in this article I will recount my «immersions» in these different places and show that my position may help to reveal the social relations which affected each universe. The photographs taken on site will be analysed; they formalise the investigator’s view of and relation with the subject observed (Conord, 1992; Piette, 1992). They are significant of the mutual watchfulness between my hosts and myself, and of the position assigned to me.