Can Historical Fiction be Ethnographic? | Outlander Ethnography 1

Summary

In this video, the presenter explores how the historical drama *Outlander* can be used to teach ethnographic research methods. Focusing on Claire, an accidental time traveler, the video examines how her experience of adapting to 18th century Scottish Highland culture parallels the process of ethnographic fieldwork. Through Claire’s perspective, the video illustrates key social science concepts like emic and etic views, reflexivity, and participant observation. By integrating the show’s narrative with anthropology, the presenter highlights *Outlander* as a rich tool for understanding cultural immersion and the complexities of qualitative research.

Takeaways

• 😀 *Outlander* can be used as a tool to teach ethnographic research methods through the experiences of its protagonist, Claire.
• 😀 Ethnography is a qualitative research method that involves immersing oneself in a community to observe, participate, and understand cultural practices and beliefs.
• 😀 Claire's character serves as an 'accidental ethnographer' due to her forced immersion in 18th-century Highland society after being transported back in time.
• 😀 The show emphasizes cultural immersion, language learning, and understanding societal structures, which mirrors ethnographic fieldwork.
• 😀 *Outlander* provides both *emic* (insider) and *edic* (outsider) perspectives as Claire navigates her dual identities as both a local and an outsider in 18th-century Scotland.
• 😀 Participant observation, a key ethnographic method, is exemplified through Claire's role as a healer, where she interacts closely with the community to gain insights.
• 😀 The tension between Claire's modern, 20th-century views and the 18th-century Scottish culture she is learning about represents the challenges of maintaining reflexivity in ethnographic research.
• 😀 *Outlander* can be analyzed using ethnographic theories, including the exploration of power dynamics, gender, and access in research environments.
• 😀 The show offers a microhistorical lens, focusing on everyday life and the experiences of commoners rather than grand historical events, a concept often used in ethnographic research.
• 😀 Despite being historical fiction, *Outlander* illustrates the complexities of cultural adaptation and serves as a valuable resource for teaching ethnographic methods.

Q & A

What is *Outlander* primarily about?

*Outlander* is a historical drama that follows Claire, an accidental time traveler who is transported from the 1940s to 18th-century Scotland. She adapts to her new environment and develops a relationship with Jamie, a Scottish Highlander. The show mainly focuses on their romantic arc, set against the backdrop of the Jacobite Rising of 1745.

How does the show *Outlander* integrate ethnography?

The show uses Claire’s experiences to mirror the process of ethnography. Claire, initially an outsider to 18th-century Highland society, gradually learns the culture, language, and daily life through participant observation and interactions, which mirrors the way ethnographers study different cultures.

What does ethnography mean in the context of this video?

Ethnography is a qualitative research method where researchers immerse themselves in a culture to understand it from the inside. The goal is to document beliefs, values, and material lives by participating in the community over time, observing, and conducting interviews.

How does *Outlander* use the concept of insider and outsider perspectives?

Claire navigates between being an outsider, referred to as a *Sassanach* (or Englishwoman), and becoming more integrated into the Highland community. This dual perspective is crucial to ethnography, where the researcher maintains an outsider’s scientific objectivity while gaining insider cultural understanding.

What is the role of *Outlander* in teaching ethnographic methods?

*Outlander* serves as a tool for teaching ethnographic theories and methods, such as participant observation, emic and etic perspectives, reflexivity, and cultural fluency. The show demonstrates how Claire’s journey of cultural immersion is analogous to the process of ethnographic research.

How does the show portray 18th-century Scottish culture?

The show focuses on the everyday lives of people in the Scottish Highlands, from peasants to the nobility, exploring their roles within the clan system. It highlights local customs, microeconomic struggles, and tax collection, offering a subaltern, ground-up view of history.

What is the difference between ethnographic film and ethno-fiction?

Ethnographic film documents real cultures and people to communicate the lived experience of different societies. Ethno-fiction, on the other hand, is a genre of film where non-professional actors from a particular cultural background play fictional characters, blending fiction with cultural documentation.

How does *Outlander* illustrate the concept of participant observation?

Claire’s role as a healer in the Highland community is an example of participant observation. She actively engages in the local culture, learns through direct interaction, and builds trust with locals, all while observing their customs and behaviors, similar to how an ethnographer would gather data.

What are some ethnographic qualities that *Outlander* shares with other media genres?

Although *Outlander* is a historical drama, it shares characteristics with ethnographic media like ethnofiction and ethnographic film. The show immerses viewers in a different time and culture, offering insights into the lives of people in 18th-century Scotland, much like ethnographic documentaries aim to educate about different cultures.

Why does Claire struggle to retain objectivity as an ethnographer in *Outlander*?

Claire struggles with objectivity because, while she becomes culturally fluent in the Highland society, she also maintains a 20th-century English perspective. Her judgmental and self-righteous tendencies prevent her from fully embracing the unbiased scientific mindset that is typically expected in ethnography.