ChoosingAFieldsite

=Choosing a Fieldsite=


 * The ideal spot for fieldworking **
 * Has a clearly defined culture—both by the geography of the site and by the nature of the people who visit the site (remember: you are studying not just a place but a group of people).
 * Is easily accessible.
 * Is safe.
 * Is something you are not very familiar with.
 * Is a place and a group of people that you are interested in, perhaps fascinated by or feel a connection with.

We will brainstorm a list of fieldsites as a class. In addition, here is a list of fieldsites and subcultures that have worked for other students.
 * Potential Fieldsites **
 * Campus organization (gay or lesbian support group, Young Republicans, Latin American students’ club, etc.)
 * 4H Club
 * Homeless shelters
 * Disney store
 * Sports team
 * Anime club
 * Hardcore music scene
 * Criminal courts
 * Lottery store
 * Role-playing club
 * Chess club
 * Bingo parlor
 * Fire station
 * Local bars, restaurants, coffee shops
 * Ballet class
 * Gymnastics team
 * Dance clubs
 * Church or synagogue
 * Flea market
 * Swim team
 * Bowling alley
 * Skateboarders
 * Mallwalkers
 * Cub Scouts


 * Potential Problem Fieldsites **
 * ** Sites you are too connected to: ** Choosing a subculture you already know well can make it hard to be objective and maintain a critical distance. For this project, you need to “step into” a subculture that you are not part of.
 * ** Sites not easily accessed: ** Consider how close you are to the site, available means of transportation, the availability of the site, and your schedule. If you work until 10:00 p.m. three nights a week, you are not going to have access to a site that is only available to you until 9:00. Make sure you will be able to get to your site to complete each assignment by the deadline laid out by the syllabus.
 * ** Sites with no distinct subculture: ** Really big sites frequented by a lot of people can be hard to study because people don’t feel a real connection to these places (e.g., the library, airports, movie theaters, hospitals, whole streets, big stores, restaurants). You want to find a site frequented by regulars, people who identify themselves as part of a group.
 * ** Dangerous sites: ** First, study something legal (no projects on dog fighting or drug pushers). Second, do not put yourself in danger. A church is as good a site as a strip club.