{"id":14801,"date":"2017-10-26T12:41:38","date_gmt":"2017-10-26T19:41:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=14801"},"modified":"2017-10-26T12:41:38","modified_gmt":"2017-10-26T19:41:38","slug":"a-thousand-words-deserves-a-picture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/a-thousand-words-deserves-a-picture\/","title":{"rendered":"A thousand words deserves a picture"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\u201cAs visual media proliferate and as our understanding of visual cultures deepens, visual research has grown. As the field develops, so does a need for textbooks and resources at all levels.\u201d[1]<\/a> This resource proposed by Victoria Alexander has been fulfilled by Sarah Pink in your book titled, \u201cDoing Visual Ethnography.\u201d In this work, Pink diligently describes the rapidly emerging resource of visual ethnography as not just a means of photo\/video taking, but rather also the methods by which a better study of the environments, peoples, cultures, and even geographies can be better studied. As the world around us erupts with videos and photos filling our televisions, websites, and bookshelves, it is through understanding that there is more to benefit from this art-form than just pretty pictures or entertaining videos; in fact, it has become a tool for sociologist as well as others to use for education and understanding.<\/p>\n

In this her third edition of \u201cDoing Visual Ethnography\u201d, Pink begins her journey with a history of photo taking on a historical level as a means of helping to show its evolution. Pink explains, \u201cto develop the understanding of visual ethnography practice I apply in my own work I draw, sometimes critically, on a range of disciplines and fields, including: visual anthropology, media anthropology, visual sociology, media and internet studies, visual studies\/visual cultural studies and art history and geography.\u201d[2]<\/a> This bold approach to research demonstrates how many resources can help to shine light in a scholarship pursuit; perhaps even in areas one had not considered previously. Recently in our congregation, one of our deacons showed a video concerning the rampage led by King Sennacharib; in the video, it discussed the elaborate wall carvings the king had ordered to be done in order to tell the story of his conquest. Though this type of archeological artwork is fascinating for the viewer to behold, for the scholar, it can tell a number of stories, should they take the time to study it properly. I believe tha\"\"<\/a>t this is the approach that Pink is teaching<\/p>\n

One of the illustrations Pink stays with throughout is the story of a female bull fighter, Cristina Sanchez.[3]<\/a> Though the photos of the bullfighter at work are amazing, it is more the story that the author is able to build concerning the bull fighter, the bull fighter as a woman, and even the story of bull fighting itself, should the visual story be told properly. \u00a0Through the skillful mastery of visual ethnographer, the photo-taker is transformed from mere photographer, to story-teller, historian, and even activist. The photos or videos can tell the story. Caution was suggested however, in that Pink warned that \u201csensitivity to how individuals in different contexts or cultures may experience anxiety or stress through their involvement in research.\u201d[4]<\/a> This mode of thinking holds the photographer\/videographer to a higher level of responsibility.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pink also addresses the growing methods of visual ethnography on a universal scale in the world today, including many names of reference in the various areas of visual ethnography; a field, that if I am truly honest, never even realized had that much attention prior to the read of this book. However, as Pink described the methods of looking deeper into culture, personalities, and ideas, I remembered looking through magazines like National Geographic and Life as a teen, fascinated by the stories a single photo could tell. \u201cIt is not simply a matter of asking how participants provide information in response to images but rather as ethnographers we should seek to understand how people use images to produce and represent experiential and affective ways of knowing that might not so easily be expressed in words.\u201d[5]<\/a> We have always heard the phrase that \u201ca picture speaks a thousand words,\u201d however, with Pink\u2019s explanation, at times, a picture can speak where words may not.<\/p>\n

One perhaps weakness of \u201cDoing Visual Ethnography\u201d could perhaps be the limited view it actually posed toward modern uses via the internet; primarily in regard to websites such as Youtube. Though one of the impacts of Pink\u2019s emphasis is the rapidly growing use of visual ethnography, and though she draws attention to a statistic back in 2009 that vloggers posting on the internet \u201crepresent 5% of the videos uploaded to Youtube, yet with Youtube bringing more than 200,000 videos per day, their numbers are not insignificant, numbering in the thousands every day,[6]<\/a>\u201d Pink seems to pass this area of visual ethnography aside when compared to some of the in depth attention given to other fields of study. However, though this may be seen as a weakness, I believe it is more an interest-based deficit; where Pink does not specialize though; she always includes names of those who do, so that the researcher can still follow their own path.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In my own reflection on this book, I cannot help but see the potential applications in regard to church ministry. In my own congregation, I have noticed that more and more members seem to be interested in seeing PowerPoint presentations with the lessons. This desire for visual technology can easily be used as a tool for adding power and emphasis to my lessons as I teach about the Bible. I can take the skills suggested by Pink, and learn to not just incorporate, but also use this as a learning opportunity for the teacher as well as the students. I love the story telling aspect of preaching\/teaching; sounds, vocal variances, hand gestures, and visual displays are all techniques I use; however, perhaps I have not used the visual displays as beautifully as I could, and thus have been missing out on some powerful sources for impact and instruction. I do not want to just teach the Bible; I want those that are listening to share in the story and to let it become real for them.<\/p>\n

Shireen Walton, a D.Phil student in Anthropology at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology wrote, \u201cThe main issue faced by all digital researchers, it seems, is to think first and foremost about how the traditional practice of ethnography translates to the online context. They have to do this in a manner both faithful and rigorous enough to constitute ethnographic research, whilst being adaptable enough to meet fresh challenges stemming from new zones of (online) engagement: a challenging prospect.[7]<\/a>\u201d Though ministers may not view themselves as ethnographers, perhaps our role of teaching thousands of years \u2018old text should recognize that we have an obligation to the text itself to understand, and then later translate that text to others properly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bibliography<\/h1>\n

Alexander, V. (1996-2014). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from Sociological Research Online: http:\/\/socresonline.org.uk\/7\/2\/pink.html<\/p>\n

Pink, S. (2017). Doing Visual Ethnography.<\/em> Los Angeles: Sage Publications.<\/p>\n

Walton, S. (2013, November 28). Digital Visual Anthropology<\/em>. Retrieved October 26, 2017, from Ethnography Matters: http:\/\/www.ethnographymatters.net\/blog\/tag\/sarah-pink\/<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Alexander, V. (1996-2014). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from Sociological Research Online: http:\/\/socresonline.org.uk\/7\/2\/pink.html<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Pink, S. (2017). Doing Visual Ethnography.<\/em> Los Angeles: Sage Publications.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Ibid, p 54.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Ibid, p 63.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Ibid, p 92.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Ibid, p 137.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Walton, S. (2013, November 28). Digital Visual Anthropology<\/em>. Retrieved October 26, 2017, from Ethnography Matters: http:\/\/www.ethnographymatters.net\/blog\/tag\/sarah-pink\/<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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