Re: RARA-AVIS: Passports, please...

From: Mark Sullivan ( DJ-Anonyme@webtv.net)
Date: 30 Aug 2001


Kerry pointed out:

". . . there's another thing affected by where a writer works and lives and that's the skill of observervation. Outsider status can make the writer more sensitive to the distinct aspects of a culture that insiders take for granted. Not that it's essential to be an outsider, or that moving, say, from LA to Kansas City wouldn't accomplish the same thing, but it probably helped in the cases you mentioned."

I think there's probably distinct advantages to both outsider and insider status. Outsiders could very well recognize and highlight taken for granted characteristics; insiders could have access to levels an outsider would never get to see. It's the old emic/edic debate in the social sciences.

Mark

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