Everyday Noticing
How do you define “culture?”
At Onward, we think of culture as the day-to-day habits that we live in, the assumptions that we don’t question. It’s the stuff that surrounds us all the time, that has been handed down to us, or that we’ve gotten used to. Culture defines what we think of as “normal.”
But cultures are different. What’s “normal” for me may not be “normal” for you, whether we’re talking about food, family structures, daily routines, or lifelong values.
And so, if we’re all steeped in different cultures, immersed in them like fish swimming in water, how can we understand and connect with each other across lines of cultural difference?
One way to start is by noticing.
An “enthnographic observation” is a kind of research study that focuses on noticing: noticing people, their environment, their interactions, their feelings. And through noticing, we can begin to appreciate and understand different cultures and different ways of life.
In this recipe, we offer some strategies for bringing an ethnographic research approach to basic, everyday things. Try using this recipe as a way to build a deeper understanding of different cultures — and with that understanding, to increase your self-awareness of your own culture too.
Recipe Everyday Noticing
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Practice ways to notice the details of how other people live their lives in order to deepen your understanding of diverse cultures — including your own.
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A place to keep notes. This can be pen and paper, your phone, a computer, or the back of a napkin.
An open mind and fresh eyes. Try not to let your own cultural assumptions cloud your vision. Instead, just listen, learn, and show appreciation for another way of living.
A setting. Who, what, where do you plan to do your ethnographic observation? It could be a grocery store, a social media feed, a shopping mall, a workplace, or any other place where people come together.
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Show up:
Pick a public place where you can hang out for a while: a public park, an online event, a diner.
Observe:
Start noticing.
If you’re able to take notes without calling attention to yourself or making people feel uncomfortable, go ahead and take notes.
- Pay attention to…
Who is there? Who is making themselves heard? Who is in the background?
What actions or behaviors do you notice?
How are people interacting with each other? Does someone appear to be “in charge”? How can you tell?
What are people feeling? What words, body language, tone of voice, or other signals make you think that?
Step away:
Leave the space that you’re in. It’s useful to have some distance as you reflect on what you observed.
Reflect:
How did you feel during this observation? Were you surprised by anything you noticed?
Do you now have new ideas or understandings that you didn’t before? Do you have new questions?
When other people observe you, what do you think that they notice?
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Remember that you are a person and a researcher (in that order) and not a spy. When you are noticing other people, remember that they are people too. Feel comfortable greeting them, engaging them, and treating them as neighbors.
Be safe. Not all public spaces will allow everyone to feel safe observing or being observed. Keep that in mind when you’re planning who/what/where you will do your noticing.
