(not Causey’s) Insects. Chinese insect drawing of five butterflies, two beetles and a dragonfly from the 18th century. Originally from Smithsonian Institution, digitally enhanced by rawixel Image’s source
During his ethnographic field research in Indonesia, Andrew Causey, an anthropologist-artist, developed a hobby of drawing and painting insects (Causey 2012). This leisure activity was enjoyable and provided a break from his research. However, it also turned out to be fruitful for his research, as his paintings opened up conversations with his landlord and carving teacher about important cultural phenomena and social realities. Despite appearing to be a random hobby that could detract from his research, drawing insects ended up contributing significantly to the main topic of Causey’s research to the extent that he wrote, “the act of drawing impacted several avenues of my ethnographic investigation in North Sumatra” (Causey 2012, 172).
Similar to how Causey understood his practice of drawing and painting–that is a random hobby–the activity of creating drawings and sketches, is often seen as marginal to field research, as both fieldnotes and ethnographic accounts typically rely on text to document observations and convey findings. These activities “are rarely discussed in books on anthropology field methods” (Hendrickson 2008, 119). Even in the field of visual anthropology, where photos and film are the mainstream modes of representation, drawings are often overlooked. However, as Causey’s experience shows, incorporating drawings and sketches into the research process can provide invaluable insights into social realities and their representation. By engaging in this seemingly marginal practice, researchers can potentially uncover new avenues of inquiry and deepen their understanding of what they study. Reflection over the process of interpretation may enrich ethnographic accounts, bring more of the process to view, and provide more transparency of the many media that final accounts emerge from. Sketches drawn in the midst of fieldwork also lend a sense of immediacy and presence to the reader. For the writer, they can work to anchor memories, reflections, and impressions of an event, enabling them to revisit it later. In this sense, they serve as a technique for thinking with.
Ethnographic sketches and field drawings can therefore be valuable tools for anthropological research and representation, as they offer a way to visually capture and communicate complex cultural phenomena.
Work Cited
Causey, Andrew. 2012. “Drawing Files: Artwork in the Field.” Critical Arts 26 (2): 162-174.
Causey, Andrew. 2017. Drawn to See: Drawing as an Ethnographic Method. North York, ON: University of Toronto Press.
Hendrickson, Carol. 2008. “Visual Field Notes: Drawing Insights in the Yucatan.” Visual Anthropology Review 24 (2): 117-132.