Posted: December 3rd, 2022

Observations of an Ethnographic Scene

Anthropology
Title: Writer’s choice
Number of sources: 4
Paper instructions:
Directions for 4-6 page Assignment:

Choose a time and location for where/when you are going to conduct your observations of an ethnographic scene (mall, public transportation, coffee shop, etc.). Go to the specified location and proceed with your observations. Find a place to sit quietly for 25 minutes and simply watch what is going on. Do not talk to or interview people during this time.
Take notes (handwritten recommended). Include details about the scene itself (time of day, lighting, furniture, plants, sounds, temperature, smell, vibe/energy, etc), with focus on the details about the people around you (their characteristics, their behavior). At this time, you should start to think about concepts that you’ve learned in class that fit with your observations. This step is critical.
Write a 4-6 page paper about your observations Your paper should:
Include a ‘thick description’ of the location with clear detail of your observations
Analyze your observations, identifying and defining four anthropological concepts that fit your observations. Definitions should be supported with cited sources.
Analyze how these anthropological concepts fit your observations.
Reflect on this activity. What was it like to observe other people through the lens of an anthropologist?
Include your field notes at the end of your paper
What is an anthropological concept? Anthropological concepts are anthropological terms and ideas. Examples of some that we’ve studied include: ethnocentrism, ethnicity, reciprocity, kinship, language and communication. You should not use this exact list of four concepts and expect them to fit your observation scene. You may, of course, use others – depending on what concepts are relevant to your observation. We also have two examples to share with you from APUS anthropologists- one from Jennifer Cramer’s fieldwork in The Gambia and one from James Turner’s fieldwork in Mexico.

One common misstep is to apply the four subfields of anthropology or to apply the four parts of the definition of culture.
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Observations of an Ethnographic Scene
Think Description of the Location
The selected location is a restaurant with huge traffic of people ordering sit-in food or take away. Observation takes during the lunch hour to identify the behavior of people eating food. It is noon while the restaurant is getting more traffic for people ordering lunch than an hour ago when I arrived. The summer heat makes the place hot, and thus some background noise of fans cooling the air is evident. The sun is also shining brightly, penetrating its warm rays through the doors and windows. Mirage is also visible from the restaurant windows. I can hear the cars’ buzzing sound on the streets as more customers continue to occupy seats and place orders.
The restaurant has a welcoming blue color with white stripes and a cream ceiling. Different bulbs are showering light on the customers as they take their food. The environment looks different since people are keeping social distance to avoid the spread of the pandemic. However, people continue to warmly interact as they listen to the calming music in the background. The waitresses are dressed in red and white skirts and blouses respectively. All the furniture, including tables and seats, are brown with cream flooring. Customers are enjoying the breeze from the outside and the beautiful glow of the plants at the entrance. The dining areas are also fitted with screens showing different programs, including news and football. The environment is generating energy and a hearty welcome for all the guests.
Analyzing Observations
The setting is an Asian hotel since most of the people eating the food are using chopsticks. Asians use chopsticks to take food while Americans use forks, knives and spoons. I identify three ladies and three ladies taking a meal comprising of rice, beef, and vegetables. They are taking hurriedly taking the meal to get some rest before they resume work. Anthropologists indicate that people of Asian origin take a light lunch (McGranahan, 2018). However, they take heavy breakfast before they go to work. Most of the people taking lunch are not from Asian origin based on their eating habits. The lunch is served in some bowls, and very few meals are on plates. The feature provides a difference between the American way of serving food and Asians. Some are ordering take-away, but the restaurant is not full. Most of the people are holding the chopsticks with their right hand. It is unlike Americans who use both hands to hold a knife and fork while eating.
The young people who are taking the meal comprised of young men and women. Their interaction shows they have a relationship at workplaces or in social settings. They are engaging in talks as they take their food. They also crack jokes as they proceed to take their meal. The interaction depicts an Asian culture of collectivism and communitarianism (Jordan, 2018). For example, a study of the Asian culture shows that they have a preference for social, economic prosperity and the community’s collective well-being. It is unlike other cultures that emphasize individualism. For example, Muslims can take food from one big plate as a sign of brotherhood and love. However, in America, food is served on individual plates. The eating behavior shows that Asian culture has unique features that bring family and friends together.
All six young people who are taking lunch use both American English and mix it with some Asian words. During the communication, I identify they all have an accent, which shows they are not natives Americans. Their tone of speech is also different, including how they intonate some words. Additionally, communication for the Asian group is mostly through non-verbal elements (Jordan, 2018). For example, they utilize body language, voice intonation, and tone of voice. On the other hand, in American culture, communication is through spoken language and rules are spelled out.
When they finish eating, one of the volunteers to clear the bills. Volunteering for the bill is a portrayal of the collective spirit of togetherness. It is unlike in the United States, where individuals pay their bills. For the Asians, they seek the common good of every person in a group. They walk majestically and head to the same directions. Before they cross the road, they meet an older adult whom they treat with high regard. Anthropologists indicate that Asian cultures place seniors in high positions of respect in society (Go et al., 2019). Until I lose sight of them, they are still talking and laughing. They provide a stark difference with other Americans who come to the restaurant focused on their meals, finish and leave in a hurry to go back to work. Anthropologists indicate that Asians are slow in decision-making and creating relationships with others (Go et al., 2019). They focus more on the quality of interaction and not the number of people they meet.
The clients at the restaurant are dressed simply. According to my estimation, they have not worn designer clothes. The ladies are also not wearing expensive hairstyles. The simplicity of the clients portrays the Asian culture that embraces humility (King, 2016). For example, Chinese people do not show off their wealth or class in society. Rich people dress casually and walk in the streets like anyone else. Unlike in the United States or the United Kingdom, people celebrate who they are by showing off their wealth or class. They impress using classic dress codes and designer clothes.
Reflection on the Activity
The experience is breathtaking since it shows the major differences among diverse cultures. As an anthropologist student, I was delighted to have a first time experience in a restaurant with Asian clients. Although I have been to such hotels before, I did not view them from an anthropologist perspective. Therefore, I have learned that people should appreciate the beauty of diversity across the creation. Anthropology focuses on celebrating the culture of different communities and studying their features.
In the future, I would like to take a longer time to study such a culture in various settings. For example, I would like to study the culture in an Asian country such as China or Hong Kong. The experience will provide first-hand information about the cultural beliefs, activities, communication, food, and interaction between the young and old. It will help me to improve my knowledge of anthropology and provide more opportunities to celebrate different cultures. I would also like to study the interaction between Chinese and Americans. The focus will be identifying the differences that occur in the interaction between the two groups. For example, I would like to know if one group would feel inferior or superior based on their background or perceptions.
I want to study the experience of students, low-income earners or people who are facing various difficulties in a foreign country. My perspective is to unveil any unique characters that people may express while subjected to different environments or experiences. For example, low-income earners or homeless people may depict a character that invites pity or sympathy. Some may also change their appearance or fluency of language due to a lack of adequate school. Older adults also both locals and foreigners may portray a different character that is interesting for anthropology students. The experience would provide comparisons with the current incidence of clients in a restaurant.
The restaurant’s experience is an eye-opener that people change their cultural practices when they relocate to a new area. Some of the reasons are because they want to fit in or feel accepted. I realized that although the Asian group of clients at the hotel was trying to maintain all their English conversations, they would randomly use the Chinese language to communicate. The experience shows they still have an attachment to their local language. Another experience is that in the anthropological study of culture and behavior, language is an essential element. The reason is that people communicate in specific ways, depending on their background. For example, many African-Americans have a specific accent that is not evident among the Chinese or whites. However, more Asians living in the United States are learning English to enhance their communication.

References
Go, M. C., Tallman, S. D., & Kim, J. (2019). Advances in forensic anthropological research in East and Southeast Asia. Forensic Anthropology, 2(4), 197-203.
Jordan, A. (2018). The Significance of Enterprise Anthropology in Asia. Global Economic Review, 47(1), 20-27.
King, V. T. (2016). Conceptualising culture, identity and region: Recent reflections on Southeast Asia. Pertanika. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 24(1), 25-42.
McGranahan, C. (2018). Ethnography. The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology, 1-5.

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