Ethnographic Writing
Ethnographic Writing 1 (1 page minimum)
YouTube Video Link
Writing 1: Ethnographic Writing (1 page minimum)
1. Read Chapter 1 in “Music in Ireland”. Pay close attention to the
writing style.
2. Watch the following video, “Traditional Irish Music Session” and
engage in an ethnographic writing exercise. Describe the musical
event with “thick and rich descriptions”. Your goal is to have the
reader experience the scene as if they were there. What will they
see, hear, smell, touch, feel? Use the chapter as an inspiration for
this writing style. How are they using written text to describe the
scenes? Do they choose words that help you visualize what is going
on? These writings will not be public – so try as best as you can to
write as “freely” and expressive as you are able. Even though the
camera only pans one room, there is much to pay attention too,
and therefor many things to write about, you can choose what you
prefer.
3. Note: Instruments played from left to right (so if you speak of the
instruments, you know what they are called.)
a. Uillean Pipes
b. Irish Flute
c. Fiddle
d. Bouzuki
e. Irish Flute
f. Fiddle
