Paper short abstract:

In this paper I discuss how I have used alternative and unconventional research techniques in carrying out my fieldwork as a blind anthropologist. It outlines how my blindness impacted upon my intersubjectivity with my informants and how I have capitalised on this intersubjectivity in my research.

Paper long abstract:

The discipline of anthropology in general is concerned with issues and problems relating to ‘mainstream’ methodological research that mainly relies on visual sense. As a blind anthropologist, in my fieldwork I have used alternative/unconventional methodological sensory research techniques, in contrast to anthropologists with sight, who mostly rely on their vision to acquire and process data and information. As a blind anthropologist, I mostly rely on my senses of hearing, smell and touch. I gather data and information by auditory means to make sense of people and our environment. Some of these auditory means are eavesdropping, understanding peoples’ emotions through the tone of their voices, and understanding the ‘acoustemology’ of spaces. This is because I am highly attuned to the tones of people’s voices and to the ambience of the places I am in. When I did my fieldwork, I was able to capitalise on these senses and abilities as research techniques, but also consider their ethical implications. In short, in the proposed panel I will consider the particular implications of doing anthropology blind.