A WORD ON THE PROCESS

When talking about their lives, people lie sometimes, forget a lot, exaggerate, become confused, and get things wrong.  Yet they are still revealing truths. 

~ Interpreting Women's Lives. Feminist Theory and Personal Narratives ~

"THE FARMER SEARCH"

 This life history/self narrative was done in fulfillment for my ANTH 250 (Methods in Anthropology: Life Histories/Self Narratives) class, this has been a semester long project. In my first Anthropology class (ANTH 150, Introduction to Anthropology) with Dr. Costa, we went on a field trip to Seven Springs Farm.  This was my first farming experience, and I was in awe of how Seven Springs functioned.  We were digging potatoes the whole morning and then we got a tour of the farm.  After I got over the fact there was dirt in my fingernails and that it would take me forever to wash it out and be clean again, I was able to respect and understand the world of agriculture and farming.  When Hilary DuBose, my classmate recommended interviewing farmers, I must admit that I cringed at first.  I was not very comfortable going to the Farmer's Market and asking someone to work on this project with me.  In a meeting with my academic advisor, Andre Spies I told him about the project and he recommended a friend of his, Linda Thornton.  I called the community school and got Mrs. Thornton's number, and then I contacted her by e-mail and she agreed to do the project with me!

 
Before we began working on our narratives/life histories, or decided which population we would like to interview.  I thought "Oh that would be easy for me, since I look to talk and probe, just ask people about their lives."  If only it was that easy!  Even for someone so talkative and inquisitive as myself I started to realize what a huge responsibility this would be, presenting someone's who life.  I interviewed Mrs. Thornton twice.  Both times we met in the Wyndham Robertson Library at Hollins University.  I used a recorder and often jotted down notes about things during the interviews.  For the first interview, my class and I collectively came up with a list of questions.  The first interview was hard for me although Mrs. Thornton was very open.  After the first interview, I was able analyze and understand Mrs. Thornton's approach to farming and life in general.  I am very proud of the questions I came up with for the second interview.  The questions were to the point, and I told Mrs. Thornton what I understood about her from her first interview and if she could expand on certain issues. 

 

"THE METHODOLOGY"

"MY THOUGHTS"

 I learnt a lot during the whole process and why self narratives/life histories can be so important in anthropology.  I have also learnt that I would NOT like to pursue a career as a secretary that transcribes interviews.  The transcribing was perhaps the hardest part of the process.  I want to thank Dr. Costa, for her amazing comments on my transcriptions, Dr. Spies for helping me find Linda Thornton and my class for making me realize a lot about myself and the entire process.               
home.             Linda Thornton's life narrative.    links of interest.               about me.
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