The ideal relationship between an anthropologist and their and key informants should be a shared consensus of each other. Key informants may become more aware of their actions or even un-trusting of the interest that the anthropologist has. I think that engaging in friendship might disrupt the observations of an anthropologist. In friendship one is less subjective, and tends to let small things go by the wayside. For an anthropologist part of their observations need to be judging the culture and their values. An anthropologist must be appropriate with the people, be courteous of any customs of values the culture has, and be diligent in the study.
I agree that it would be difficult for someone of a different culture to trust an anthropologist. It's hard to imagine what they might think you're purpose is. Are you there to evaluate them, or are you there to figure out how easy it would be to evacuate them in order to use their land for another purpose? Not saying any anthropologists are, but you never know what ideas someone else might have, especially if you don't speak their language. So I think it might actually be helpful in that way to form friendships with your informants. The more they know you, and know why you are there, the more likely they will be to trust you and give you accurate information.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that the relationship between the anthropologist and the informant should be shared and trusted. This way the research results can be accurate.
ReplyDeleteI agree that a friendship might be too much to have between an anthropologist and the informants, but there must be some kind of trustful relationship between the two so the anthropologist is able to get valuable information. It does take time to getting used to someone immersing themselves into one's culture, and over that a lotted amount of time I think that the informants begin to hopefully trust the anthropologist and willing to give them information.
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