Drop-In Dialogues

1. You’ve been randomly dropped into this conversation:

Imagine that you are attending a talk or the screening of an ethnographic video, but you entered the room midway through. Play the video segment.

Please take notes on paper, if possible. Mark times like 24:11 when something notable occurs. You will need that when answering the questions in the next section.

2. Now, try to find an entry point into the conversation:

After viewing the segment, answer the following questions. Cite at least two timestamps within the clip.

3. Finally, reflect on what you can bring into it:

Now consider the whole video. Use these prompts to expand your contribution to the conversation:

What is the overall argument or theme of the full video? How would you summarize it in a few sentences? In your summary, draw on your responses to the questions from the previous section, 'Finding an entry point'.
How does the talk connect with other readings, theories, or ethnographies you know?
What questions could you ask the speaker (or producers of the video) if you were in the room, to deepen or challenge the conversation?