mit Exkursionen

Zweisprachig: Unterrichtssprache deutsch, Kommunikation und SL wie PL selbstverständlich in Englisch möglich!
Bi-lingual, instructions mainly in German, but communication in the classroom and exams in English possible!

Access:
I am committed to meeting the learning needs of all seminar participants. For university support with disability accomodations, please contact KIS – Kontakt- und Informationsstelle für Studierende mit Behinderung.
Equally important, I am happy to negotiate ways of expanding access to the seminar beyond bureaucratic procedures. Please feel free to contact me concerning any issues which may be disability-related but which may also relate to your family, work, or technology situation. In particular for organizing our outdoor excursions, please let me know on time what kind of barriers may arise in order to develop alternatives.
Although a bulk of literature will be in English, communication in the classroom & instructions in this course will be mainly in German, but bilingual conversation and writing your portfolio/ report (PL) in English will be an option.

Wöchentliche Blöcke von 4 Stunden, Überblick in basale und weiterführende Methoden der Ethnografie, von denen einige auf Exkursionen praktisch ausprobiert werden. Gleichzeitig entwickeln Sie im SoSe ein eigenes kleines Forschungsprojekt, das bereits in den Sem.ferien zum Abschluss gebracht und mit einem ergebniszentrierten Bericht als Teil der PL eingereicht wird. Dieser Kurs eignet sich daher tendenziell für Studierende mit Vorkenntnissen in Ethnografie, ist aber nicht auf diese begrenzt. Allerdings sollten alle, die im WiSe 2025/26 ein Auslandssemester planen, diesen Kurs wählen, damit ihr Pflichtmodul M6 dann mit Ende des SoSe 25 abgeschlossen ist.

In diesem Kurs werden basale Techniken der qualitativen Forschung und somit Methoden aus dem Repertoire der Ethnografie vorgestellt und erprobt. Wir werden uns in ausgewählte Methoden-Literatur einlesen, aber vor allem experimentieren mit Ansätzen des Mitmachens und Zuguckens (in Kombination „Teilnehmende Beobachtung“), mit diversen Gesprächstechniken und wie man sie im Laufe eines Forschungsprozesses entwickeln kann. Wir werden uns aber auch jüngeren Ansätzen widmen, wie mensch eine Frage durch Netzwerke kollaborativ generieren kann, auch durch digitales Recherchieren und Interagieren. Wir üben uns im multimodalen Dokumentieren, was heute neben dem auf-schreiben auch malen & zeichnen, fotografieren & videografieren, oder künstlerische Umsetzungen (z.B. Collagen) umfassen kann. Bei allen Ansätzen der Ethnografie steht die Reflektion des methodischen Tuns im Zentrum, sich über die eigenen Wahrnehmungen und diversen Rolle-n als Forscher*in bewusst zu werden. So können spezifische Perspektiven auf ein Thema im Austausch mit Forschungspartnern herausgearbeitet oder neu verstanden werden. Und das gilt auch für die Annäherung an mehr-als-menschliche-Wesen und materielle Welten. Fragen der Forschungsethik sind immer eng verknüpft mit den jeweiligen „Feld“-Erfahrungen, d.h. auch Risiken und Grenzen des eigenen methodischen Tuns wollen wir einschätzen lernen und konstruktive Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten aufzeigen, um „good practice“ in unserem Fach weiter zu entwickeln.
In der ersten Hälfte des Semesters werden wir daher zwei Exkursionen unternehmen, um eher von der praktischen Erfahrung aus in theoretische Debatten einzutauchen. Somit steht zunächst das Ausprobieren von ethnografischen Techniken wie Beobachtung, Wahrnehmung und Dokumentieren im Vordergrund. Spontane Gespräche oder Befragungen mit Passanten können hier integriert werden, was später auch durch die gezielte Wahl von Expert*innen für Interviews erweitert werden kann.
Schließlich entwickelt jede*r eine eigene Fragestellung, die im Laufe des Semesters selbständig oder im 2-er Team verfolgt wird. Durch ein kurzes Exposé umreißen Sie ihr Vorhaben und die Methoden, die Sie anwenden werden. In Deutungswerkstätten werden wir erste Analyseverfahren vorstellen, in denen Sie entweder bereits selbst erhobene Daten auswerten oder wir nutzen exemplarische Daten aus abgeschlossenen Projekten. So können Sie hoffentlich einschätzen, welche Methoden inkl. Auswertung für Ihr eigenes Projekt relevant wird, oder was Sie gern mal ausprobieren möchten.

Assignments
Somit entsteht folgendes Anforderungsprofil:
- Aktive Teilnahme am Seminar (4 SWS, regulär Do 14-18h) mit arbeitsteiligen Lektüren und Präsentationen: 2 CP
- Teilnahme an zwei ethnografischen Exkursionen (im Zeitraum Donnerstag 14-19h; Termine werden zu Beginn des Semesters angekündigt) inkl. method. Übungen und Dokumentation in einem ethnografischen Journal: 3 CP
- Verfolgen einer eigeständigen Fragestellung mit Methodendesign (kurzes Exposé), abschließender Reflexions- und Ergebnisbericht im Umfang von 15 Seiten.: 4 CP.
- Das ethnografische Journal inkl. der Bericht zum eigenen Projekt wird benotet, Abgabe vorauss. bis zum 30.9.2025.

Kontakt für weitere Fragen und Anliegen per email: cweisskoeppelprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de


Literaturauswahl
• Amit, Vered 2000, ed.: Constructing the Field. London und New York: Routledge
• Appadurai, Arjun 2013: Between Utopia and Despair. The Future as Cultural Fact. London: Verso
• Bonz, J. et al. 2017: Ethnografie und Deutung. Gruppensupervisionen als Methode reflexiven Forschens. Wiesbaden: Springer VS
• Elliott, Denielle/ Culhane, Dara ed. 2017: A Different Kind of Ethnography. Imaginative Practices and Creative Methodologies. Toronto: University of Toronto Press
• Emerson, Robert M./ Fretz, Rachel, I./ Shaw, Linda 1995: Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. Chicago und London: The University of Chicago Press
• Fortun, Kim 2015: Figuring Out Theory. Ethnographic Sketches. In: Boyer, D. et al. (Hg.): Theory Can Be More Than It Used To Be. Learning Anthropology's Method in a Time of Transition. New York: Cornell University Press
• Geertz, Clifford, 1987: Dichte Beschreibung. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.
• Gibbs, Graham R. (2007): Analyzing Qualitative Data. Kalifornien: Sage Publications.
• Guest, Kenneth J. (2017): Fieldwork and Ethnography. In: ders.: Cultural Anthropology. A Toolkit for a Global Age. New York und London: W.W. Norton & Company
• Harper, Douglas (2002): Talking about pictures. A case for Photo elicitation. In: Visual Studies, Vol 17/ 1/2002, S. 13-26.
• Helfferich, Cornelia (2014): Mental-Maps und Narrative Raumkarten. In: Bischoff, Christine; Oehme-Jüngling, Caroline und Leimgruber, Walter (Hg.): Methoden der Kulturanthropologie. Bern: Haupt Verlag
• Kusenbach, Margarethe 2018: Go alongs. In: The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Data Collection. London, New Delhi: Sage.
• Marcus, George 1995: Ethnography in/of the World System: the Emergence of Multisited-Ethnography. In: Annual Review of Anthropology 24, S. 95-117
• Marcus, George & Clifford, James 1986: Writing Culture
• Pratt, Marie-Louise 2008: Imperial Eyes. Travel Writing and Transculturation. London: Routldge
• Skinner, Jonathan, ed. 2012: The Interview. An Ethnographic Approach. London und New York: Berg

4 SWS

This seminar is part of series of seminars jointly developed with the University of Rojava since 2021. The aim is to enable conversations among students of the Universities of Bremen and Rojava.
The autonomous University of Rojava is based in Qamishlo in North-Eastern Syria (NES)– also often referred to as Rojava. This region has suffered heavily under the war, especially through the attacks from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) and the ongoing bombardment by Turkey. In response to violent politics of nationalism, assimilation and violence, the autonomous region of North and Eastern Syria (NES) has become the site of one of the most interesting current attempts to establish a new form of living together beyond the idea of a nation-state. Despite the hardship, the people in NES are trying to build a society which positively acknowledges its multilingual, multireligious and multicultural character and is based on ideas of grassroots democracy, women's liberation, ecologically sustainability as well as on a model of autonomy which strives to be an alternative to the nation-state. In this way, it provides a possible model not only for the Middle East, but also the world beyond.
At the same time, in Germany, we are currently witnessing a rise of the far-right, which is pushing an anti-pluralist, racist, misogynist and homophobic agenda and committing severe acts of violence. Its ideas of white supremacy and fears of 'replacement' feed into fantasies of a homogeneous, pure nation and deporting those you do not fit. It seems Germany has not learnt from its fascist history.
The idea of the seminar is to collectively engage with questions of state and statelessness, nationalism, racism and violence. What can we learn from the situations in each of our contexts? How can we counter these (ethno)nationalist and racist logics and what are alternative ways of living together in difference.
The seminar will include a couple of biweekly preparation sessions (only Bremen students) in April and May; two (perhaps three) one-day symposiums with experts and scholars, plus six joint sessions en-bloc with the students in Rojava (two weekends end of June). Check the details for more information on the dates.

In the Western world many academics nod in agreement, if someone e.g. from a Maori community claims back human remains of ancestors. Speaking for German Westerns, many find the idea of ancestors (or at least forefathers and -mothers) to be somehow understandable, although extremely vague. In Germany mentioning ‘ancestors’ has rather to do with showing respect – although German history doesn’t seem to make this awfully easy, if also memories of past wars and atrocities are considered. Ancestors – in short – appears to be a very, very complex and slightly difficult topic.

And yet, many discussions on repatriations of museum items start by referencing the term ‘ancestors.’ In this course, we look at the example of the Pacific (and Papua New Guinea in particular). There we inquire how ancestors relate to current debates about (post-) colonialism and the return of some of what is ‘stored’ or ‘put on display’ in German museums. It also means to study various different ways of relating to the past. We will do so together with three Papua New Guinean scholars – Maine Goga from the field of anthropology studies and museum practice in the National Museum and Melin Wamas and Minetta Karkarere from the political science perspective from the University of Papua New Guinea. Together we will visit the newly opened Oceanic exhibition in the Überseemuseum.


Literatur: Wiessner, Polly und Akii Tumu: Historical Vines. Enga Networks of Exchange, Ritual, and Warfare in Papua New Guinea. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington/London, 1998.
Trompf, Garry: “Pacific Islands” In: Swain, Tony and Garry Trompf (Hrg.): The Religions of Oceania. [Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices] Routledge: New York, 1995. 121-222.

4 SWS

Der Ausgangspunkt dieses Seminars ist die Wut, Frustration und vielleicht Hilflosigkeit, die wir angesichts des Anstiegs der (extremen) Rechten in Deutschland und anderswo empfinden. Es möchte diese Wut aufgreifen und in Forschung umwandeln, um uns zu helfen, zu verstehen, was wir – (gerade) als Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaftler:innen – dagegen tun können. Daher zielt das Seminar darauf ab praktische Strategien entwickeln, um dieser Entwicklung etwas entgegenzuwirken.
Die Gruppe entscheidet gemeinsam, was sie wo untersuchen möchte. Wir werden für uns selbst Forschungsethik und -prinzipien festlegen, und uns um ein sorgsames Miteinander kümmern. Wir werden mit und von Aktivist:innen lernen, die schon lange in diesem Bereich aktiv sind. Ziel ist es aus diesem Seminar eine längerfristige studentischen Forschungsgruppe zu entwickeln, aber die einmalige Teilnahme ist auch völlig in Ordnung. Regelmäßige Treffen finden Dienstags, meist von 10-12:00 statt plus zusätzliche Blocktermine (tbd) im Mai. Genaueres wird in der ersten Sitzung bekannt gegeben. Als Sprache werden wir je nach Bedarf ein Gemisch aus Englisch und Deutsch verwenden. Manche Termine mit Aktivist:innen müssen u.U. auf Deutsch stattfinden (um eine Übersetzung müssen wir uns gemeinsam kümmern).

This seminar starts from the anger, frustration and perhaps helplessness we might be feeling in light of the rise of the (far)right in Germany and elsewhere. It wants to take this anger and transform it into research to help us understand what we can do about it. Hence, the seminar aims at developing practical counter-strategies on the basis of our research as anthropologists or social scientists.
The group will together decide what it wants to investigate and where. It will layout its own research ethics and principles, and ensure a caring group atmosphere. We will also engage with and learn from activists who have been struggling in this field for a long-time. The overall aim of this seminar is also to develop into a long-term student research/watch-group. But, if you are only interested in joining this semester that is totally find. Regular meetings will take place on Tuesdays from 10-12:00, plus extra appointments en bloc (tbd) in May. More information will be given in the first session. Language will be a mix of German and English depending of the needs of the participants. Some sessions however with activists might have to take place in German (we will figure out translation together).

4 SWS

This seminar is part of series of seminars jointly developed with the University of Rojava since 2021. The aim is to enable conversations among students of the Universities of Bremen and Rojava.
The autonomous University of Rojava is based in Qamishlo in North-Eastern Syria (NES)– also often referred to as Rojava. This region has suffered heavily under the war, especially through the attacks from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) and the ongoing bombardment by Turkey. In response to violent politics of nationalism, assimilation and violence, the autonomous region of North and Eastern Syria (NES) has become the site of one of the most interesting current attempts to establish a new form of living together beyond the idea of a nation-state. Despite the hardship, the people in NES are trying to build a society which positively acknowledges its multilingual, multireligious and multicultural character and is based on ideas of grassroots democracy, women's liberation, ecologically sustainability as well as on a model of autonomy which strives to be an alternative to the nation-state. In this way, it provides a possible model not only for the Middle East, but also the world beyond.
At the same time, in Germany, we are currently witnessing a rise of the far-right, which is pushing an anti-pluralist, racist, misogynist and homophobic agenda and committing severe acts of violence. Its ideas of white supremacy and fears of 'replacement' feed into fantasies of a homogeneous, pure nation and deporting those you do not fit. It seems Germany has not learnt from its fascist history.
The idea of the seminar is to collectively engage with questions of state and statelessness, nationalism, racism and violence. What can we learn from the situations in each of our contexts? How can we counter these (ethno)nationalist and racist logics and what are alternative ways of living together in difference.
The seminar will include a couple of biweekly preparation sessions (only Bremen students) in April and May; two (perhaps three) one-day symposiums with experts and scholars, plus six joint sessions en-bloc with the students in Rojava (two weekends end of June). Check the details for more information on the dates.

In the Western world many academics nod in agreement, if someone e.g. from a Maori community claims back human remains of ancestors. Speaking for German Westerns, many find the idea of ancestors (or at least forefathers and -mothers) to be somehow understandable, although extremely vague. In Germany mentioning ‘ancestors’ has rather to do with showing respect – although German history doesn’t seem to make this awfully easy, if also memories of past wars and atrocities are considered. Ancestors – in short – appears to be a very, very complex and slightly difficult topic.

And yet, many discussions on repatriations of museum items start by referencing the term ‘ancestors.’ In this course, we look at the example of the Pacific (and Papua New Guinea in particular). There we inquire how ancestors relate to current debates about (post-) colonialism and the return of some of what is ‘stored’ or ‘put on display’ in German museums. It also means to study various different ways of relating to the past. We will do so together with three Papua New Guinean scholars – Maine Goga from the field of anthropology studies and museum practice in the National Museum and Melin Wamas and Minetta Karkarere from the political science perspective from the University of Papua New Guinea. Together we will visit the newly opened Oceanic exhibition in the Überseemuseum.


Literatur: Wiessner, Polly und Akii Tumu: Historical Vines. Enga Networks of Exchange, Ritual, and Warfare in Papua New Guinea. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington/London, 1998.
Trompf, Garry: “Pacific Islands” In: Swain, Tony and Garry Trompf (Hrg.): The Religions of Oceania. [Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices] Routledge: New York, 1995. 121-222.

4 SWS

Der Ausgangspunkt dieses Seminars ist die Wut, Frustration und vielleicht Hilflosigkeit, die wir angesichts des Anstiegs der (extremen) Rechten in Deutschland und anderswo empfinden. Es möchte diese Wut aufgreifen und in Forschung umwandeln, um uns zu helfen, zu verstehen, was wir – (gerade) als Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaftler:innen – dagegen tun können. Daher zielt das Seminar darauf ab praktische Strategien entwickeln, um dieser Entwicklung etwas entgegenzuwirken.
Die Gruppe entscheidet gemeinsam, was sie wo untersuchen möchte. Wir werden für uns selbst Forschungsethik und -prinzipien festlegen, und uns um ein sorgsames Miteinander kümmern. Wir werden mit und von Aktivist:innen lernen, die schon lange in diesem Bereich aktiv sind. Ziel ist es aus diesem Seminar eine längerfristige studentischen Forschungsgruppe zu entwickeln, aber die einmalige Teilnahme ist auch völlig in Ordnung. Regelmäßige Treffen finden Dienstags, meist von 10-12:00 statt plus zusätzliche Blocktermine (tbd) im Mai. Genaueres wird in der ersten Sitzung bekannt gegeben. Als Sprache werden wir je nach Bedarf ein Gemisch aus Englisch und Deutsch verwenden. Manche Termine mit Aktivist:innen müssen u.U. auf Deutsch stattfinden (um eine Übersetzung müssen wir uns gemeinsam kümmern).

This seminar starts from the anger, frustration and perhaps helplessness we might be feeling in light of the rise of the (far)right in Germany and elsewhere. It wants to take this anger and transform it into research to help us understand what we can do about it. Hence, the seminar aims at developing practical counter-strategies on the basis of our research as anthropologists or social scientists.
The group will together decide what it wants to investigate and where. It will layout its own research ethics and principles, and ensure a caring group atmosphere. We will also engage with and learn from activists who have been struggling in this field for a long-time. The overall aim of this seminar is also to develop into a long-term student research/watch-group. But, if you are only interested in joining this semester that is totally find. Regular meetings will take place on Tuesdays from 10-12:00, plus extra appointments en bloc (tbd) in May. More information will be given in the first session. Language will be a mix of German and English depending of the needs of the participants. Some sessions however with activists might have to take place in German (we will figure out translation together).

4 SWS

This seminar is part of series of seminars jointly developed with the University of Rojava since 2021. The aim is to enable conversations among students of the Universities of Bremen and Rojava.
The autonomous University of Rojava is based in Qamishlo in North-Eastern Syria (NES)– also often referred to as Rojava. This region has suffered heavily under the war, especially through the attacks from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) and the ongoing bombardment by Turkey. In response to violent politics of nationalism, assimilation and violence, the autonomous region of North and Eastern Syria (NES) has become the site of one of the most interesting current attempts to establish a new form of living together beyond the idea of a nation-state. Despite the hardship, the people in NES are trying to build a society which positively acknowledges its multilingual, multireligious and multicultural character and is based on ideas of grassroots democracy, women's liberation, ecologically sustainability as well as on a model of autonomy which strives to be an alternative to the nation-state. In this way, it provides a possible model not only for the Middle East, but also the world beyond.
At the same time, in Germany, we are currently witnessing a rise of the far-right, which is pushing an anti-pluralist, racist, misogynist and homophobic agenda and committing severe acts of violence. Its ideas of white supremacy and fears of 'replacement' feed into fantasies of a homogeneous, pure nation and deporting those you do not fit. It seems Germany has not learnt from its fascist history.
The idea of the seminar is to collectively engage with questions of state and statelessness, nationalism, racism and violence. What can we learn from the situations in each of our contexts? How can we counter these (ethno)nationalist and racist logics and what are alternative ways of living together in difference.
The seminar will include a couple of biweekly preparation sessions (only Bremen students) in April and May; two (perhaps three) one-day symposiums with experts and scholars, plus six joint sessions en-bloc with the students in Rojava (two weekends end of June). Check the details for more information on the dates.

In the Western world many academics nod in agreement, if someone e.g. from a Maori community claims back human remains of ancestors. Speaking for German Westerns, many find the idea of ancestors (or at least forefathers and -mothers) to be somehow understandable, although extremely vague. In Germany mentioning ‘ancestors’ has rather to do with showing respect – although German history doesn’t seem to make this awfully easy, if also memories of past wars and atrocities are considered. Ancestors – in short – appears to be a very, very complex and slightly difficult topic.

And yet, many discussions on repatriations of museum items start by referencing the term ‘ancestors.’ In this course, we look at the example of the Pacific (and Papua New Guinea in particular). There we inquire how ancestors relate to current debates about (post-) colonialism and the return of some of what is ‘stored’ or ‘put on display’ in German museums. It also means to study various different ways of relating to the past. We will do so together with three Papua New Guinean scholars – Maine Goga from the field of anthropology studies and museum practice in the National Museum and Melin Wamas and Minetta Karkarere from the political science perspective from the University of Papua New Guinea. Together we will visit the newly opened Oceanic exhibition in the Überseemuseum.


Literatur: Wiessner, Polly und Akii Tumu: Historical Vines. Enga Networks of Exchange, Ritual, and Warfare in Papua New Guinea. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington/London, 1998.
Trompf, Garry: “Pacific Islands” In: Swain, Tony and Garry Trompf (Hrg.): The Religions of Oceania. [Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices] Routledge: New York, 1995. 121-222.

4 SWS

Der Ausgangspunkt dieses Seminars ist die Wut, Frustration und vielleicht Hilflosigkeit, die wir angesichts des Anstiegs der (extremen) Rechten in Deutschland und anderswo empfinden. Es möchte diese Wut aufgreifen und in Forschung umwandeln, um uns zu helfen, zu verstehen, was wir – (gerade) als Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaftler:innen – dagegen tun können. Daher zielt das Seminar darauf ab praktische Strategien entwickeln, um dieser Entwicklung etwas entgegenzuwirken.
Die Gruppe entscheidet gemeinsam, was sie wo untersuchen möchte. Wir werden für uns selbst Forschungsethik und -prinzipien festlegen, und uns um ein sorgsames Miteinander kümmern. Wir werden mit und von Aktivist:innen lernen, die schon lange in diesem Bereich aktiv sind. Ziel ist es aus diesem Seminar eine längerfristige studentischen Forschungsgruppe zu entwickeln, aber die einmalige Teilnahme ist auch völlig in Ordnung. Regelmäßige Treffen finden Dienstags, meist von 10-12:00 statt plus zusätzliche Blocktermine (tbd) im Mai. Genaueres wird in der ersten Sitzung bekannt gegeben. Als Sprache werden wir je nach Bedarf ein Gemisch aus Englisch und Deutsch verwenden. Manche Termine mit Aktivist:innen müssen u.U. auf Deutsch stattfinden (um eine Übersetzung müssen wir uns gemeinsam kümmern).

This seminar starts from the anger, frustration and perhaps helplessness we might be feeling in light of the rise of the (far)right in Germany and elsewhere. It wants to take this anger and transform it into research to help us understand what we can do about it. Hence, the seminar aims at developing practical counter-strategies on the basis of our research as anthropologists or social scientists.
The group will together decide what it wants to investigate and where. It will layout its own research ethics and principles, and ensure a caring group atmosphere. We will also engage with and learn from activists who have been struggling in this field for a long-time. The overall aim of this seminar is also to develop into a long-term student research/watch-group. But, if you are only interested in joining this semester that is totally find. Regular meetings will take place on Tuesdays from 10-12:00, plus extra appointments en bloc (tbd) in May. More information will be given in the first session. Language will be a mix of German and English depending of the needs of the participants. Some sessions however with activists might have to take place in German (we will figure out translation together).

mit Exkursionen

Zweisprachig: Unterrichtssprache deutsch, Kommunikation und SL wie PL selbstverständlich in Englisch möglich!
Bi-lingual, instructions mainly in German, but communication in the classroom and exams in English possible!

Access:
I am committed to meeting the learning needs of all seminar participants. For university support with disability accomodations, please contact KIS – Kontakt- und Informationsstelle für Studierende mit Behinderung.
Equally important, I am happy to negotiate ways of expanding access to the seminar beyond bureaucratic procedures. Please feel free to contact me concerning any issues which may be disability-related but which may also relate to your family, work, or technology situation. In particular for organizing our outdoor excursions, please let me know on time what kind of barriers may arise in order to develop alternatives.
Although a bulk of literature will be in English, communication in the classroom & instructions in this course will be mainly in German, but bilingual conversation and writing your portfolio/ report (PL) in English will be an option.

Wöchentliche Blöcke von 4 Stunden, Überblick in basale und weiterführende Methoden der Ethnografie, von denen einige auf Exkursionen praktisch ausprobiert werden. Gleichzeitig entwickeln Sie im SoSe ein eigenes kleines Forschungsprojekt, das bereits in den Sem.ferien zum Abschluss gebracht und mit einem ergebniszentrierten Bericht als Teil der PL eingereicht wird. Dieser Kurs eignet sich daher tendenziell für Studierende mit Vorkenntnissen in Ethnografie, ist aber nicht auf diese begrenzt. Allerdings sollten alle, die im WiSe 2025/26 ein Auslandssemester planen, diesen Kurs wählen, damit ihr Pflichtmodul M6 dann mit Ende des SoSe 25 abgeschlossen ist.

In diesem Kurs werden basale Techniken der qualitativen Forschung und somit Methoden aus dem Repertoire der Ethnografie vorgestellt und erprobt. Wir werden uns in ausgewählte Methoden-Literatur einlesen, aber vor allem experimentieren mit Ansätzen des Mitmachens und Zuguckens (in Kombination „Teilnehmende Beobachtung“), mit diversen Gesprächstechniken und wie man sie im Laufe eines Forschungsprozesses entwickeln kann. Wir werden uns aber auch jüngeren Ansätzen widmen, wie mensch eine Frage durch Netzwerke kollaborativ generieren kann, auch durch digitales Recherchieren und Interagieren. Wir üben uns im multimodalen Dokumentieren, was heute neben dem auf-schreiben auch malen & zeichnen, fotografieren & videografieren, oder künstlerische Umsetzungen (z.B. Collagen) umfassen kann. Bei allen Ansätzen der Ethnografie steht die Reflektion des methodischen Tuns im Zentrum, sich über die eigenen Wahrnehmungen und diversen Rolle-n als Forscher*in bewusst zu werden. So können spezifische Perspektiven auf ein Thema im Austausch mit Forschungspartnern herausgearbeitet oder neu verstanden werden. Und das gilt auch für die Annäherung an mehr-als-menschliche-Wesen und materielle Welten. Fragen der Forschungsethik sind immer eng verknüpft mit den jeweiligen „Feld“-Erfahrungen, d.h. auch Risiken und Grenzen des eigenen methodischen Tuns wollen wir einschätzen lernen und konstruktive Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten aufzeigen, um „good practice“ in unserem Fach weiter zu entwickeln.
In der ersten Hälfte des Semesters werden wir daher zwei Exkursionen unternehmen, um eher von der praktischen Erfahrung aus in theoretische Debatten einzutauchen. Somit steht zunächst das Ausprobieren von ethnografischen Techniken wie Beobachtung, Wahrnehmung und Dokumentieren im Vordergrund. Spontane Gespräche oder Befragungen mit Passanten können hier integriert werden, was später auch durch die gezielte Wahl von Expert*innen für Interviews erweitert werden kann.
Schließlich entwickelt jede*r eine eigene Fragestellung, die im Laufe des Semesters selbständig oder im 2-er Team verfolgt wird. Durch ein kurzes Exposé umreißen Sie ihr Vorhaben und die Methoden, die Sie anwenden werden. In Deutungswerkstätten werden wir erste Analyseverfahren vorstellen, in denen Sie entweder bereits selbst erhobene Daten auswerten oder wir nutzen exemplarische Daten aus abgeschlossenen Projekten. So können Sie hoffentlich einschätzen, welche Methoden inkl. Auswertung für Ihr eigenes Projekt relevant wird, oder was Sie gern mal ausprobieren möchten.

Assignments
Somit entsteht folgendes Anforderungsprofil:
- Aktive Teilnahme am Seminar (4 SWS, regulär Do 14-18h) mit arbeitsteiligen Lektüren und Präsentationen: 2 CP
- Teilnahme an zwei ethnografischen Exkursionen (im Zeitraum Donnerstag 14-19h; Termine werden zu Beginn des Semesters angekündigt) inkl. method. Übungen und Dokumentation in einem ethnografischen Journal: 3 CP
- Verfolgen einer eigeständigen Fragestellung mit Methodendesign (kurzes Exposé), abschließender Reflexions- und Ergebnisbericht im Umfang von 15 Seiten.: 4 CP.
- Das ethnografische Journal inkl. der Bericht zum eigenen Projekt wird benotet, Abgabe vorauss. bis zum 30.9.2025.

Kontakt für weitere Fragen und Anliegen per email: cweisskoeppelprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de


Literaturauswahl
• Amit, Vered 2000, ed.: Constructing the Field. London und New York: Routledge
• Appadurai, Arjun 2013: Between Utopia and Despair. The Future as Cultural Fact. London: Verso
• Bonz, J. et al. 2017: Ethnografie und Deutung. Gruppensupervisionen als Methode reflexiven Forschens. Wiesbaden: Springer VS
• Elliott, Denielle/ Culhane, Dara ed. 2017: A Different Kind of Ethnography. Imaginative Practices and Creative Methodologies. Toronto: University of Toronto Press
• Emerson, Robert M./ Fretz, Rachel, I./ Shaw, Linda 1995: Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. Chicago und London: The University of Chicago Press
• Fortun, Kim 2015: Figuring Out Theory. Ethnographic Sketches. In: Boyer, D. et al. (Hg.): Theory Can Be More Than It Used To Be. Learning Anthropology's Method in a Time of Transition. New York: Cornell University Press
• Geertz, Clifford, 1987: Dichte Beschreibung. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.
• Gibbs, Graham R. (2007): Analyzing Qualitative Data. Kalifornien: Sage Publications.
• Guest, Kenneth J. (2017): Fieldwork and Ethnography. In: ders.: Cultural Anthropology. A Toolkit for a Global Age. New York und London: W.W. Norton & Company
• Harper, Douglas (2002): Talking about pictures. A case for Photo elicitation. In: Visual Studies, Vol 17/ 1/2002, S. 13-26.
• Helfferich, Cornelia (2014): Mental-Maps und Narrative Raumkarten. In: Bischoff, Christine; Oehme-Jüngling, Caroline und Leimgruber, Walter (Hg.): Methoden der Kulturanthropologie. Bern: Haupt Verlag
• Kusenbach, Margarethe 2018: Go alongs. In: The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Data Collection. London, New Delhi: Sage.
• Marcus, George 1995: Ethnography in/of the World System: the Emergence of Multisited-Ethnography. In: Annual Review of Anthropology 24, S. 95-117
• Marcus, George & Clifford, James 1986: Writing Culture
• Pratt, Marie-Louise 2008: Imperial Eyes. Travel Writing and Transculturation. London: Routldge
• Skinner, Jonathan, ed. 2012: The Interview. An Ethnographic Approach. London und New York: Berg

4 SWS

This seminar is part of series of seminars jointly developed with the University of Rojava since 2021. The aim is to enable conversations among students of the Universities of Bremen and Rojava.
The autonomous University of Rojava is based in Qamishlo in North-Eastern Syria (NES)– also often referred to as Rojava. This region has suffered heavily under the war, especially through the attacks from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) and the ongoing bombardment by Turkey. In response to violent politics of nationalism, assimilation and violence, the autonomous region of North and Eastern Syria (NES) has become the site of one of the most interesting current attempts to establish a new form of living together beyond the idea of a nation-state. Despite the hardship, the people in NES are trying to build a society which positively acknowledges its multilingual, multireligious and multicultural character and is based on ideas of grassroots democracy, women's liberation, ecologically sustainability as well as on a model of autonomy which strives to be an alternative to the nation-state. In this way, it provides a possible model not only for the Middle East, but also the world beyond.
At the same time, in Germany, we are currently witnessing a rise of the far-right, which is pushing an anti-pluralist, racist, misogynist and homophobic agenda and committing severe acts of violence. Its ideas of white supremacy and fears of 'replacement' feed into fantasies of a homogeneous, pure nation and deporting those you do not fit. It seems Germany has not learnt from its fascist history.
The idea of the seminar is to collectively engage with questions of state and statelessness, nationalism, racism and violence. What can we learn from the situations in each of our contexts? How can we counter these (ethno)nationalist and racist logics and what are alternative ways of living together in difference.
The seminar will include a couple of biweekly preparation sessions (only Bremen students) in April and May; two (perhaps three) one-day symposiums with experts and scholars, plus six joint sessions en-bloc with the students in Rojava (two weekends end of June). Check the details for more information on the dates.

In the Western world many academics nod in agreement, if someone e.g. from a Maori community claims back human remains of ancestors. Speaking for German Westerns, many find the idea of ancestors (or at least forefathers and -mothers) to be somehow understandable, although extremely vague. In Germany mentioning ‘ancestors’ has rather to do with showing respect – although German history doesn’t seem to make this awfully easy, if also memories of past wars and atrocities are considered. Ancestors – in short – appears to be a very, very complex and slightly difficult topic.

And yet, many discussions on repatriations of museum items start by referencing the term ‘ancestors.’ In this course, we look at the example of the Pacific (and Papua New Guinea in particular). There we inquire how ancestors relate to current debates about (post-) colonialism and the return of some of what is ‘stored’ or ‘put on display’ in German museums. It also means to study various different ways of relating to the past. We will do so together with three Papua New Guinean scholars – Maine Goga from the field of anthropology studies and museum practice in the National Museum and Melin Wamas and Minetta Karkarere from the political science perspective from the University of Papua New Guinea. Together we will visit the newly opened Oceanic exhibition in the Überseemuseum.


Literatur: Wiessner, Polly und Akii Tumu: Historical Vines. Enga Networks of Exchange, Ritual, and Warfare in Papua New Guinea. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington/London, 1998.
Trompf, Garry: “Pacific Islands” In: Swain, Tony and Garry Trompf (Hrg.): The Religions of Oceania. [Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices] Routledge: New York, 1995. 121-222.

4 SWS

Der Ausgangspunkt dieses Seminars ist die Wut, Frustration und vielleicht Hilflosigkeit, die wir angesichts des Anstiegs der (extremen) Rechten in Deutschland und anderswo empfinden. Es möchte diese Wut aufgreifen und in Forschung umwandeln, um uns zu helfen, zu verstehen, was wir – (gerade) als Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaftler:innen – dagegen tun können. Daher zielt das Seminar darauf ab praktische Strategien entwickeln, um dieser Entwicklung etwas entgegenzuwirken.
Die Gruppe entscheidet gemeinsam, was sie wo untersuchen möchte. Wir werden für uns selbst Forschungsethik und -prinzipien festlegen, und uns um ein sorgsames Miteinander kümmern. Wir werden mit und von Aktivist:innen lernen, die schon lange in diesem Bereich aktiv sind. Ziel ist es aus diesem Seminar eine längerfristige studentischen Forschungsgruppe zu entwickeln, aber die einmalige Teilnahme ist auch völlig in Ordnung. Regelmäßige Treffen finden Dienstags, meist von 10-12:00 statt plus zusätzliche Blocktermine (tbd) im Mai. Genaueres wird in der ersten Sitzung bekannt gegeben. Als Sprache werden wir je nach Bedarf ein Gemisch aus Englisch und Deutsch verwenden. Manche Termine mit Aktivist:innen müssen u.U. auf Deutsch stattfinden (um eine Übersetzung müssen wir uns gemeinsam kümmern).

This seminar starts from the anger, frustration and perhaps helplessness we might be feeling in light of the rise of the (far)right in Germany and elsewhere. It wants to take this anger and transform it into research to help us understand what we can do about it. Hence, the seminar aims at developing practical counter-strategies on the basis of our research as anthropologists or social scientists.
The group will together decide what it wants to investigate and where. It will layout its own research ethics and principles, and ensure a caring group atmosphere. We will also engage with and learn from activists who have been struggling in this field for a long-time. The overall aim of this seminar is also to develop into a long-term student research/watch-group. But, if you are only interested in joining this semester that is totally find. Regular meetings will take place on Tuesdays from 10-12:00, plus extra appointments en bloc (tbd) in May. More information will be given in the first session. Language will be a mix of German and English depending of the needs of the participants. Some sessions however with activists might have to take place in German (we will figure out translation together).

4 SWS

This seminar is part of series of seminars jointly developed with the University of Rojava since 2021. The aim is to enable conversations among students of the Universities of Bremen and Rojava.
The autonomous University of Rojava is based in Qamishlo in North-Eastern Syria (NES)– also often referred to as Rojava. This region has suffered heavily under the war, especially through the attacks from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) and the ongoing bombardment by Turkey. In response to violent politics of nationalism, assimilation and violence, the autonomous region of North and Eastern Syria (NES) has become the site of one of the most interesting current attempts to establish a new form of living together beyond the idea of a nation-state. Despite the hardship, the people in NES are trying to build a society which positively acknowledges its multilingual, multireligious and multicultural character and is based on ideas of grassroots democracy, women's liberation, ecologically sustainability as well as on a model of autonomy which strives to be an alternative to the nation-state. In this way, it provides a possible model not only for the Middle East, but also the world beyond.
At the same time, in Germany, we are currently witnessing a rise of the far-right, which is pushing an anti-pluralist, racist, misogynist and homophobic agenda and committing severe acts of violence. Its ideas of white supremacy and fears of 'replacement' feed into fantasies of a homogeneous, pure nation and deporting those you do not fit. It seems Germany has not learnt from its fascist history.
The idea of the seminar is to collectively engage with questions of state and statelessness, nationalism, racism and violence. What can we learn from the situations in each of our contexts? How can we counter these (ethno)nationalist and racist logics and what are alternative ways of living together in difference.
The seminar will include a couple of biweekly preparation sessions (only Bremen students) in April and May; two (perhaps three) one-day symposiums with experts and scholars, plus six joint sessions en-bloc with the students in Rojava (two weekends end of June). Check the details for more information on the dates.

In the Western world many academics nod in agreement, if someone e.g. from a Maori community claims back human remains of ancestors. Speaking for German Westerns, many find the idea of ancestors (or at least forefathers and -mothers) to be somehow understandable, although extremely vague. In Germany mentioning ‘ancestors’ has rather to do with showing respect – although German history doesn’t seem to make this awfully easy, if also memories of past wars and atrocities are considered. Ancestors – in short – appears to be a very, very complex and slightly difficult topic.

And yet, many discussions on repatriations of museum items start by referencing the term ‘ancestors.’ In this course, we look at the example of the Pacific (and Papua New Guinea in particular). There we inquire how ancestors relate to current debates about (post-) colonialism and the return of some of what is ‘stored’ or ‘put on display’ in German museums. It also means to study various different ways of relating to the past. We will do so together with three Papua New Guinean scholars – Maine Goga from the field of anthropology studies and museum practice in the National Museum and Melin Wamas and Minetta Karkarere from the political science perspective from the University of Papua New Guinea. Together we will visit the newly opened Oceanic exhibition in the Überseemuseum.


Literatur: Wiessner, Polly und Akii Tumu: Historical Vines. Enga Networks of Exchange, Ritual, and Warfare in Papua New Guinea. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington/London, 1998.
Trompf, Garry: “Pacific Islands” In: Swain, Tony and Garry Trompf (Hrg.): The Religions of Oceania. [Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices] Routledge: New York, 1995. 121-222.

4 SWS

Der Ausgangspunkt dieses Seminars ist die Wut, Frustration und vielleicht Hilflosigkeit, die wir angesichts des Anstiegs der (extremen) Rechten in Deutschland und anderswo empfinden. Es möchte diese Wut aufgreifen und in Forschung umwandeln, um uns zu helfen, zu verstehen, was wir – (gerade) als Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaftler:innen – dagegen tun können. Daher zielt das Seminar darauf ab praktische Strategien entwickeln, um dieser Entwicklung etwas entgegenzuwirken.
Die Gruppe entscheidet gemeinsam, was sie wo untersuchen möchte. Wir werden für uns selbst Forschungsethik und -prinzipien festlegen, und uns um ein sorgsames Miteinander kümmern. Wir werden mit und von Aktivist:innen lernen, die schon lange in diesem Bereich aktiv sind. Ziel ist es aus diesem Seminar eine längerfristige studentischen Forschungsgruppe zu entwickeln, aber die einmalige Teilnahme ist auch völlig in Ordnung. Regelmäßige Treffen finden Dienstags, meist von 10-12:00 statt plus zusätzliche Blocktermine (tbd) im Mai. Genaueres wird in der ersten Sitzung bekannt gegeben. Als Sprache werden wir je nach Bedarf ein Gemisch aus Englisch und Deutsch verwenden. Manche Termine mit Aktivist:innen müssen u.U. auf Deutsch stattfinden (um eine Übersetzung müssen wir uns gemeinsam kümmern).

This seminar starts from the anger, frustration and perhaps helplessness we might be feeling in light of the rise of the (far)right in Germany and elsewhere. It wants to take this anger and transform it into research to help us understand what we can do about it. Hence, the seminar aims at developing practical counter-strategies on the basis of our research as anthropologists or social scientists.
The group will together decide what it wants to investigate and where. It will layout its own research ethics and principles, and ensure a caring group atmosphere. We will also engage with and learn from activists who have been struggling in this field for a long-time. The overall aim of this seminar is also to develop into a long-term student research/watch-group. But, if you are only interested in joining this semester that is totally find. Regular meetings will take place on Tuesdays from 10-12:00, plus extra appointments en bloc (tbd) in May. More information will be given in the first session. Language will be a mix of German and English depending of the needs of the participants. Some sessions however with activists might have to take place in German (we will figure out translation together).

4 SWS

This seminar is part of series of seminars jointly developed with the University of Rojava since 2021. The aim is to enable conversations among students of the Universities of Bremen and Rojava.
The autonomous University of Rojava is based in Qamishlo in North-Eastern Syria (NES)– also often referred to as Rojava. This region has suffered heavily under the war, especially through the attacks from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) and the ongoing bombardment by Turkey. In response to violent politics of nationalism, assimilation and violence, the autonomous region of North and Eastern Syria (NES) has become the site of one of the most interesting current attempts to establish a new form of living together beyond the idea of a nation-state. Despite the hardship, the people in NES are trying to build a society which positively acknowledges its multilingual, multireligious and multicultural character and is based on ideas of grassroots democracy, women's liberation, ecologically sustainability as well as on a model of autonomy which strives to be an alternative to the nation-state. In this way, it provides a possible model not only for the Middle East, but also the world beyond.
At the same time, in Germany, we are currently witnessing a rise of the far-right, which is pushing an anti-pluralist, racist, misogynist and homophobic agenda and committing severe acts of violence. Its ideas of white supremacy and fears of 'replacement' feed into fantasies of a homogeneous, pure nation and deporting those you do not fit. It seems Germany has not learnt from its fascist history.
The idea of the seminar is to collectively engage with questions of state and statelessness, nationalism, racism and violence. What can we learn from the situations in each of our contexts? How can we counter these (ethno)nationalist and racist logics and what are alternative ways of living together in difference.
The seminar will include a couple of biweekly preparation sessions (only Bremen students) in April and May; two (perhaps three) one-day symposiums with experts and scholars, plus six joint sessions en-bloc with the students in Rojava (two weekends end of June). Check the details for more information on the dates.

In the Western world many academics nod in agreement, if someone e.g. from a Maori community claims back human remains of ancestors. Speaking for German Westerns, many find the idea of ancestors (or at least forefathers and -mothers) to be somehow understandable, although extremely vague. In Germany mentioning ‘ancestors’ has rather to do with showing respect – although German history doesn’t seem to make this awfully easy, if also memories of past wars and atrocities are considered. Ancestors – in short – appears to be a very, very complex and slightly difficult topic.

And yet, many discussions on repatriations of museum items start by referencing the term ‘ancestors.’ In this course, we look at the example of the Pacific (and Papua New Guinea in particular). There we inquire how ancestors relate to current debates about (post-) colonialism and the return of some of what is ‘stored’ or ‘put on display’ in German museums. It also means to study various different ways of relating to the past. We will do so together with three Papua New Guinean scholars – Maine Goga from the field of anthropology studies and museum practice in the National Museum and Melin Wamas and Minetta Karkarere from the political science perspective from the University of Papua New Guinea. Together we will visit the newly opened Oceanic exhibition in the Überseemuseum.


Literatur: Wiessner, Polly und Akii Tumu: Historical Vines. Enga Networks of Exchange, Ritual, and Warfare in Papua New Guinea. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington/London, 1998.
Trompf, Garry: “Pacific Islands” In: Swain, Tony and Garry Trompf (Hrg.): The Religions of Oceania. [Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices] Routledge: New York, 1995. 121-222.

4 SWS

Der Ausgangspunkt dieses Seminars ist die Wut, Frustration und vielleicht Hilflosigkeit, die wir angesichts des Anstiegs der (extremen) Rechten in Deutschland und anderswo empfinden. Es möchte diese Wut aufgreifen und in Forschung umwandeln, um uns zu helfen, zu verstehen, was wir – (gerade) als Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaftler:innen – dagegen tun können. Daher zielt das Seminar darauf ab praktische Strategien entwickeln, um dieser Entwicklung etwas entgegenzuwirken.
Die Gruppe entscheidet gemeinsam, was sie wo untersuchen möchte. Wir werden für uns selbst Forschungsethik und -prinzipien festlegen, und uns um ein sorgsames Miteinander kümmern. Wir werden mit und von Aktivist:innen lernen, die schon lange in diesem Bereich aktiv sind. Ziel ist es aus diesem Seminar eine längerfristige studentischen Forschungsgruppe zu entwickeln, aber die einmalige Teilnahme ist auch völlig in Ordnung. Regelmäßige Treffen finden Dienstags, meist von 10-12:00 statt plus zusätzliche Blocktermine (tbd) im Mai. Genaueres wird in der ersten Sitzung bekannt gegeben. Als Sprache werden wir je nach Bedarf ein Gemisch aus Englisch und Deutsch verwenden. Manche Termine mit Aktivist:innen müssen u.U. auf Deutsch stattfinden (um eine Übersetzung müssen wir uns gemeinsam kümmern).

This seminar starts from the anger, frustration and perhaps helplessness we might be feeling in light of the rise of the (far)right in Germany and elsewhere. It wants to take this anger and transform it into research to help us understand what we can do about it. Hence, the seminar aims at developing practical counter-strategies on the basis of our research as anthropologists or social scientists.
The group will together decide what it wants to investigate and where. It will layout its own research ethics and principles, and ensure a caring group atmosphere. We will also engage with and learn from activists who have been struggling in this field for a long-time. The overall aim of this seminar is also to develop into a long-term student research/watch-group. But, if you are only interested in joining this semester that is totally find. Regular meetings will take place on Tuesdays from 10-12:00, plus extra appointments en bloc (tbd) in May. More information will be given in the first session. Language will be a mix of German and English depending of the needs of the participants. Some sessions however with activists might have to take place in German (we will figure out translation together).