neema

       It’s not easy to research an urban society, especially one far from home. Sometimes you have to learn to talk a new language and not to judge society on your own perspective, which can be a problem, since we tend to look at things in our own way. But using proper research methods and asking the right people for help can limit difficulties.

Summary: p5-19 & p20-35.

              Anthropological research on city life started after WW II, and evolved in 1960s and 1970s, when Urban Sociology was already a developed fieldwork. Anthropologists have recently “settled upon the most appropriate research strategies.” When Anthropology first came out as a science it was only concerned with illiterate people, which later changed to bigger societies and different cultures. In the beginning the Anthropologist based their assumptions on descriptions of missionaries, later however, had better choices with research methods and information to base their hypothesis on. Fieldwork in the 20^th century was restricted, since it was hard to travel and due to the lack of money and time. The ways of the British to study societies and culture were becoming better, because of Malinowski. However, 10 years after Malinowski, American Anthropologist were also stepping up their game. Later anthropologists learned; good data- gathering techniques, importance of observing and the significance of witnessing a special event. Research was done in rural areas and urban areas. However, research  in urban anthropology can be challenging because anthropologist tend view urban populations from a rural view, which can lead to few problems. In the future there will be better research materials, opportunities and money to make urban research happen in better ways.

   

        In the “Fieldwork in Tokyo,” Bestor explained his research in Tokyo. He had to be a part of the community to actually understand them and their ways. First he had to learn Japanese, so he can communicate and travel easily. Finding a field site wasn’t easy due to vast communities. But him and his wife went to different communities that might have been suitable for research. Bestor was advised to “find a network not a community.” He started his research in Miyamoto-Cho and later Tsukiji. His had connections and asked them to introduce to other people, which they in outing and in festival celebration. To observe people in his field site better, Bestor moved in the same neighborhood and became a part of the community. He was introduced to local leaders, activists and the vice president of the neighborhood. His “network” increased and he had more variables for his research. He attended local festivals, where he could observe an entire neighborhood together. Once he started new research he still asked help form old connection. In Bestor’s later research he was introduced to officials of major trade federations and got access to their documents and was introduced to many more people.

     As the first writing described research method and opportunities have gotten better than before when Anthropology was new. It is still difficult since its hard to get people talking, especially now when people have to finish many tasks in one day and do not want to be disturbed.