Noel B. Salazar

Ethnographic theory: A product of observation, reflection … and travel

Behind the question on how to define and understand ethnographic theory hides a discussion about ... more Behind the question on how to define and understand ethnographic theory hides a discussion about how (anthropological) knowledge is or should be produced. Going back to the etymological roots of the concepts teaches us a lot about the core characteristics that define how theory is created and the ethnographic variant of this creative process.

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HOMInG Interview

by Noel B. Salazar and Milena Belloni

“Home is not an easy concept because it is pluriversal. It is used by many people, academics and ... more “Home is not an easy concept because it is pluriversal. It is used by many people, academics and non-academics alike and has a lot of different meanings. However, what is clear is that it is a relational concept. This means that it expresses a certain relation that a certain person or a group of people have with something or somebody else. This is often translated in terms of attachment and belonging. Now, when I think of home, I think of the first home of the human: the womb. That is the first ‘home’ and it says a lot about the concept in general”.

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Sustainable tourism… for development?

Not a day goes by without being confronted, one way or the other, with the multiple environmental... more Not a day goes by without being confronted, one way or the other, with the multiple environmental, societal, and economic challenges that our planet faces. Because it is impossible to tackle all problems at once, the United Nations (UN) has created so-called international observances—special days, weeks, months, years, and even decades that highlight an issue of global concern. The year 2017 happens to be the “International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development” (#IY2017). The idea to use tourism as a tool for development is not new. So, why this theme, and why now?

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The writing behind the written

Savage Minds, 2014

While I'm brainstorming ideas for this writers' workshop series, my pre-school daughter is sittin... more While I'm brainstorming ideas for this writers' workshop series, my pre-school daughter is sitting next to me. Even though she can't read or write yet, she's fascinated by letters. As I type along on my laptop, she jots down her own invented script in a little notebook. It reminds me of my own journey of discovery of "the written word." I had barely mastered the technicalities of handwriting when I started scribbling in personal diaries. As a teenager, I complemented these self-absorbed writings with more social formats as I exchanged snail mail letters with pen pals from across the globe. My first love relationships added poetry to the list and I became an avid journalist for my school's newspaper (named "Boomerang," hinting at the importance of reader reception). I continued some of that work at university, where I took a specialized course in journalism and experimented with a range of academic writing styles and formats. I also became a "critical writing fellow," helping undergraduates to translate thoughts into words. When I moved abroad (which happened multiple times), I mailed weekly electronic "letters from [destination X]" to relatives and friends. I kept this tradition during my doctoral fieldwork, in addition to launching an ethnographic blog. So it's no exaggeration to state that I like writing.

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Waiting for Tallinn: A conversation with Noel Salazar

Allegra, 2014

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Guest blogs by Noel B. Salazar

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