Every individual has a “communal life,” therefore each is, according to Jerome Bruner, an “expression of culture.” Good understanding of one individual will give a good glimpse into the community s/he is part of. It is essential for us as researchers to pay close attention closely to what s/he says, how s/he says it, how s/he interacts with us as researchers, and to be able to make sense of the details.
The course aims at providing tools for students who are interested in qualitative research and fieldwork to conduct in-depth interviews and to do narrative analysis that follows. In-class discussions are based on reading materials of narrative, meaning, memory, experience from authors like Daniel Kahneman, Jerome Bruner, Donald Spence, Mary Jo Maynes (et.al) and more.