The World is on Fire: Photo/Essay

Dear HumanKind & EarthKin of Appalachia and the World, 

In November 2016, I was conducting part of my dissertation fieldwork and participating as a “formerly young” member of a month-long youth theater lab in Eastern Kentucky. I briefly returned home to vote in the US presidential election, and while driving back into town on election day, I took this photo of burning mountains next to the highway using a low-resolution camera on an old smartphone that my grandmother bought me. My ethnographic research includes interviewing and spending time with youth media makers and arts educators in media education programs and public regional events in Central Appalachia. This research also focuses on intergenerational mentorship relationships and networks that enable and support creative aspirations and livelihoods.

Friend in the Field Cameo Appearance in Anthropology News

Dear Fans of "Material Culture Vignettes of Field Bags," 

When Anthropology News (AN) first sent out its call for contributions to "What's in Your Bag, Anthropologists?", I immediately knew that I would send a response about Friend in the Field #1: my trusty green backpack. The call asked anthropologists to share a high-resolution photo and a 150-200-word essay to illustrate and describe the packing contents of their bags for the "summer fieldwork season." I'm honored and excited that my nerdy ode to my backpack/field tools was included in the inaugural post for this feature!

Source: www.anthropology-news.org
(Can you find AnthroBone's field bag?)

Technoscapes: Moving Through Time & Space

Dear Visual & Social Beings & Thinkers,

As a kid in the 1980s, two of my favorite activities were riding bikes and visual technologies that enabled access to other worlds. I also have a lifelong interest in Latin American cultures and traveled to Central and South America in college and graduate school. I am currently conducting dissertation research with youth media makers in Appalachia and how they use visual art and media to envision possibilities for themselves and the region. So when I saw this photo by Rachel Tanur, I was immediately drawn into the narrow focus of the “Cuban Boy with Bike and Game” and shared a similar captivation as she captured on his intent face.

"Cuban Boy with Bike and Game"
Photo by Rachel Tanur
(Also see her complete gallery)

App Report: Soundscapes for Working and/or Chilling

Dear Soundscapists, Sound Escapists, and Escapers of Sound,

Cassette tape recorded circa 1985-86 by my
6th-grade self & labeled/preserved by my Mamaw

As an anthropologist, my workflow fluctuates between social engagement in the world (i.e., participant observation, conducting interviews, attending meetings/events, presenting research) and more remote and potentially solitary efforts (i.e., writing funding proposals and reports, conference abstracts, field notes; scheduling/transcribing interviews). Depending on the activity, soundscapes such as audio notes, background music, and community radio play various important roles in both defining my work environment and informing/documenting the content of my research. So this App Report focuses on some of the tools and methods I use in different fields and contexts.

Friend in the Field #1: Backpack

Hall of Fame Inductee #1

Dear Forever-Trekkers in the Field,

Several years ago, one of our best friends gave me this Eagle Creek Travel Gear backpack, which has been a loyal Friend in the Field ever since. She wasn't using it anymore, and I really needed one after I returned to graduate school full-time and stayed in Lexington during the week and went home on the weekends. I commuted to campus by bike, so my otherwise awesome single-strap leather mailbag was just not practical and resulted in too many unfortunate mishaps.