The purpose is to discuss possibilities to write autoethnographies with use of walking methodology. Uncertainties concerns combinations between memories, from the perspective of a girl’s observations during the 1960’s, and analysis with distinctions through experiences of an ethnology researcher.
Paper long abstract:
Once the environment was very well-known for me, during my childhood in the 1960’s. After my family moved from this area, I hardly have been there ever since. Very seldom under the latest 40 years have I visit this town. When I will return to my former housing district, I do not belong to the area anymore. As a researcher, I am curious about my possibilities to write an autoethnography with use of walking methodology. In a former project I have practiced a go-a-long method with inhabitants who strolled around, looked at parks, streets, and buildings and told their live stories. When I now will walk in my own footsteps, it will be necessary to reflect over which kinds of memories the environment can help me to recognize. Is it possible to reach any beneficial links to the past with this method? I suppose some of the buildings are not there anymore and all homes I remember are gone. Younger generations have settled down in these blocks. My uncertainty is also connected to awareness of memories’ fragmentation. Challenges I will struggle with are related to my ambitions. I want to give attention to some memories from the perspective of a girl’s observations during the 1960’s and combine the analysis with distinctions I have received through my experiences as an ethnology researcher over the years.