In my initial blog post I talked about my research project being ethnographical. In last Monday's class I realized that it is, more acurately, a learning history. I was previously unfamiliar with this term, but should have been able to intuit it. By interviewing my subject, drawing out her narrative, listening to and recording her stories, we are constructing the story of her life. We are, in effect, learning the history together.

The five salient points about a learning history that Dr. Amidon mentioned describe perfectly what I am learning while undergoing this process:

1.      Storytelling can be valuable.

2.      Different voices can join together to tell a complete narrative.

3.      Research doesn’t end with the final project, but can be reviewed with the participants.

4.      Researchers and subjects come together in a continuing process. (this is currently my favorite part.)

5.      It’s not just studying a culture, but aims to change it for the better.

Okay, I'll admit that I haven't exactly figured out how number 5 comes into play, but am sure it will become clear as my project continues.

There is a scene in the 1981 movie Arthur where he is sitting quietly in the back of his limo, then suddenly says, “Oh!”, throws back his head and begins laughing hysterically. His lady friend asks what’s so funny, to which he replies,"I sometimes just think funny things."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUiCFk2HB94

Sometimes if there isn’t enough laughter in my day, I’ll conjure up a humorous memory and make like Arthur. For instance, the other day I was remembering one very cold winter day on the IU campus when my friend and I came upon a dead squirrel. I picked up its stiff form in my gloved hands and carefully positioned it, in an active pose, in the crook of a tree. That poor thing remained there “running up the tree” until the spring thaw, which gave me the giggles every time I walked by.