Monthly Archives: January 2023

In Shange’s “Progressive Dystopia”, we learn Shange’s ethnographic approach to a much larger issue that many don’t comprehend until further observation has taken place. In Shange’s observation, we learn her relationship between her casual classroom observations to her closer interviews … Continue reading →

It is interesting that attention to detail in ethnographies begins with the very literature used. When describing her nomenclature system, Shange carefully explains the purpose and reasoning behind her choice. It especially stood out that she asked the students what they … Continue reading →

I am fascinated by Shange’s theorization of the metaphor that is used to encapsulate how students of color are put into a disadvantageous spot due to cultural and sociopolitical factors. Various kinds of inequities weave together to challenge Black and … Continue reading →

Shange draws a contrast between Sofia’s “anti-antiblack practice” and Abuelita’s Black practice”. What is the difference, then? The most noticeable feature that the chapter focuses on is the repeated question of “why can’t we learn African?” Asked by African American … Continue reading →

Shange uses multiple methods to conduct her ethnography, but the one she seems to rely the most on is classroom observations and observing conversations between students and between Sofia, the teacher, and her students. Shange still participates because she is … Continue reading →

After reading the chapters from Shange’s work, one theme that stood out to me was her argument for abolition over other strategies of achieving social change. Specifically, Shange focused on Black education, and how modern structures need to be abolished … Continue reading →

I really enjoyed this ethnography both in terms of methodology as well as the content. As someone who is interested in systemic violence as it pertains to Indigeneity, I found her insight and perspective on change valuable. In Chapter 3, … Continue reading →

I found the author’s exploration of how political elements pervade and define classroom interactions fascinating. The relationship between race, academic success, economic mobility, and rates of mass incarceration per certain demographics is shocking and something Shange traces back to “enrollment … Continue reading →

The more I reflect on the prologue of this book, the more I realize the masterpiece of web created by matsutake rather than the fungi itself. Although the mushroom takes place with the most emphasis on the cover as the main character, there is … Continue reading →

Something that stood out to me from Chapter 3 of the Murchinson book was what comes before the formal research design that I would assume many of us are familiar with from research, science, and statistics classes. Exploratory research, specifically, … Continue reading →

I really gravitated toward the discussion of “thinking about the nonobvious as discoverable” when determining a research topic (26). This idea is relevant not only in terms of being creative when questioning the world around us, but also in terms … Continue reading →

In the introduction of “The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruin,” author Anna Tsing presents the concept of “ruin capitalism” and how it relates to the cultivation of matsutake mushrooms in … Continue reading →

I found this ethnography interesting because it traces ethnic formation in the Southeast Asian diaspora through the lens of the matsutake mushroom. I knew culture and economic livelihood were tied together, but it was interesting to read about the extent … Continue reading →

Tsing’s writing stood out to me for her discussion surrounding the theme of precarity, through the medium of matsutake. I like how she ties together growth of the Japanese-native mushroom to regional industrialization and globalization, as part of an uncertain … Continue reading →

There were two aspects of Tsing’s writing that stood out to me. The first was her emphasis on observation. Before the prologue, Tsing writes that “research categories develop with the research, not before it.” This captures the sheer essence of … Continue reading →

Tsing claims that her intent behind the project is not reactionary nor conservative but subversive. I find Tsing’s way of arguing for emancipating human imagination fascinating. Human beings are caught up in the narrative of progress accompanied by simplicity. From … Continue reading →