Mary
"I also look at love as a kind of emotion" (1). What would love be if it was not looked at as an emotion?

Michelle
On page 5, the concept of "Western" is questioned as a racist notion. However, from other classes and readings, this seems to be a typical phrase in Anthropology. What did you think of this point, and do you agree with what the author says?

Danielle
On page 10, the author states, "I did not originally set out to study love, as such, but was led to the topic." Do you think that most anthropologists end up studying the topic that they intended to study? Do you think that it matters if they study their intended topic?

Christina
Rebhun explains that she "did not originally set out to study love, as such, but was led to the topic ... [her] original plan was to do a linguistic study of emotion of the type then popular in anthropology."  She also explains that while her original focus questions were rather boring, she found "nothing more entertaining than other people's love lives, except perhaps one's own, and gossip about them is on the joys of social life in society."  This provides a sound foundation for fieldwork?  Similarly, Rebhun states that she used snowball sampling to put stories together - she used it as a way to get as many sides of a story as possible.  What about those who she was not able to get all sides of a story...how did they affect the accuracy of her ethnography?  What place does truth play in ethnography?  What liberties are appropriate for the anthropologist to take and not explain?

Juliet
Why do you think the author describes her "journey" to picking her topic? Why didn't she just start the book with what she studied?

Stacey
"In Brazil economic status and regional residence structure social relationships." (pg 48) Isn't that the case everywhere?  There is a high chance that you are friends with people who you live near for example.

Lauren
“With tourism an increasingly important industry, and in response to an often deeply felt desire to present the beautiful in the region while downplaying the ugly, Northeast Brazilians actively participate in myth-making about their region” (37). Do you think this represents the concept of editing through photographs that we talked about in our last discussion?  

Simone
How do you think that writing about emotions that seem to mean a different thing for each person complicates ethnography?

Suzanne
Rebhun states on page 6 that "My socialization into the discipline after years of undergraduate and graduate course work blinded me to the true strangeness of my situation." When you step back and think about it, is it strange to do ethnography? Do you think those being studied generally fine it odd and (how) can it effect one's research?

Allison
"I found that when I asked people about their lives and problems, and especially about their problems with the opposite sex, even strangers were eager to tell me detailed, elaborate stories." Why is it that people are so willing to tell personal facts about themselves to a stranger? Is this something that anthropologists frequently encounter when doing fieldwork, or is it something that varies by culture?

Emily
When interviewing informants, are there such things as bad questions? Ignorant questions? Why and why not?

Ali
Rebhun writes, "But more misleading were the times when everything seemed to make sense, when it seemed that all I needed were intuition and empathy to understand those around me.  I had to learn to annotate, study, and puzzle over everything, even the seemingly familiar" (p. 3).  Do you agree that once the anthropologist becomes familiar with the culture they are studying that they need to make sure they keep their eyes open for little nuances? Or do anthropologists find out more helpful information once they get past smaller aspects of culture and can learn more about the culture as a whole?

Scott
The author reminds the reader that she studied individuals, not generic Brazilians.  However, writing on a too personal level might become boring and too confusing.  Is there a balance that anthropologists deal with between individual and cultural coverage when they write ethnography?  If so, what would be the ideal balance?

Becca
-"I did not meet any typical Northeast Brazilians during my journey; rather, I met individuals who could debate the meanings of terms and concepts as cogently as any academic..." (8).  What does the author mean here by "typical Northeast Brazilians?"

Brittany
"Her data are formed by the places she visits, the people who befriend her (and those who merely tolerate her), and her observations of and reactions to her experiences" (3). Why does the author suddenly switch from first person, referring to herself as "me" and "I", to talking about herself in the third person, using "her" and "she"?

Kyle
Rebhun states in her introduction: "I often learned more from informal interactions than I did from formal interviews." Why do you think this is and what is your opinion on this?

Juliet
"Second, people found my questions boring, and frankly, so did I." Does an anthropologist have to come off as interesting to the people he or she is talking to? What if the subject is unavoidably boring?


Gabriela
How does the gender of the anthropologist influence his or her ability to perform research in the field?

Becca
How could this culture’s reliance on fantasy enhance or interfere with the ethnographer’s findings?

Ali
Adrian discusses how pictures, at least in the United States, do no accurately portray people's lives.  How accurate is this statement? Why do historians and anthropologists look at pictures if they are inaccurate? Where pictures always inaccurate?

Meagan
"Photographs often lie, and not just in Taiwan."  (10)  Do you think "lie" is an appropriate word to describe bridal photographs, or any kind of photograph for that matter? Do photos always have to make a statement, or can they be solely for use by the subject in the photo?

Mary
"The bridal salon workers' intention is not to produce "realistic" images that lend a sense of authenticity to the couple.  Rather, like advertising company stylists and photographers, they work to create fantastical, highly perfect, and idealistic images" (60) IS this sometimes what an anthropologists does with their work?

Danielle
Do these "fake" photos represent the actual marriage itself?

Suzanne
Is the point of getting these photos taken so that they can hold on to memories? Are they false representations since so much editing is involved and do you think that takes away from any sentimental attachments one might have to them?

Laura
The article states that Taiwanese bridal photographs "move toward the individualistic pursuit of romantic pleasures in marriage and the de-emphasis on extended kin ties" (10).  What are these romantic pleasures?  Does the de-emphasis of the extended family help a couple achieve this desired romance?

Christina
Adrian states that she relied on "certain key 'informants,'" and notes that they became more than just subjects for her study.  She goes on to list several people.  With wow many people should an anthropologist aim to develop close relationships?  Can you imagine an anthropologist over-extending herself and thus compromising the depth/strength/intimacy of the relationships she is making?

Simone
"Ethnographic research requires the researcher to develop deep familiarity with research subjects, to participate directly in their everyday lives." Do you think this is true? Do you think this is something important enough to add to our class list?

Brittany
Is the author's deep discussion of modernization and westernization integral to the development of the ethnography? Or is it more her own thoughts about how they have negatively affected not just the Taiwanese but all other cultures?

Hannah
Adrian says that bridal photography is now more meaningful and exciting for modern young people, than the actual wedding? Is this transformation of moving away from familial obligations and towards romance, a trend in Taiwanese culture?

Shane
At the beginning of chapter 1, Adrian says "one waits around until something interesting spontaneously occurs." Are anthropologists just supposed to record something that is spontaneous or are they supposed to record even small details that might not be that exciting?

Scott
Adrian mentions that she got her "inside" to the bridal industry by offering free English lessons to certain individuals for information. Doesn't this cause a power unbalance? Is this ethical?

Kyle
Why do you think this text is so appealing compared to other contemporary texts on anthropology?

Juliet
"My primary research strategy was to talk to anyone and everyone." we consistently hear that anthropologist say "yes" to everything and talk to anyone who will talk to them. This made me wonder, are there any shy anthropologists? Is it possible to be introverted and be an anthropologist?

Gabriela
How would you compare the historical context of chapter one of this book to the background given in our previous reading about love in Brasil? Which one do you prefer and why?

Stacey
The author speaks about fieldwork and how he has to "meddle" in human affairs.  Would you consider what anthropologists do, meddling?

Allison
Can studying such a "trivial topic" such as Taiwanese bridal photos really reflect transnationalism and the transnational Woman? Can studying something of such a narrow focus really generate adequate conclusions about a larger topic?