The idea that stood out most to me in chapters 1 and 2 of the Murchison reading was how to approach people and observe and interact with others while simultaneously making sure not to intrude, make anyone feel uncomfortable, or take away the authenticity of such meetings and encounters. As I have always been interested in ethnographic studies, and particularly direct interviews with the subjects involved, I found Murchison’s tips to be helpful and eye-opening in understanding both the role of an anthropologist and how I can utilize these approaches in my own research study.
The research proposal I am considering is how external environments impact Korean American college students’ perception on beauty. I am focusing on Korea as the country has gathered the most fame in its obsession with appearance and beauty standards. While I am not worried about making any “intrusions” or making people feel uncomfortable, I do feel I may find difficulty in knowing how much of my own experiences and ideas I am allowed to include. Would there be too much bias in including my own personal experiences on Korean perceptions of beauty? Would this be overstepping the boundaries of the role of an anthropologist and what he/she should be able to contribute? Murchison makes it clear that a researcher be clear in his or her identity in approaching the subject, and I want to allow this clarity to shine through in how I interact with those I will be interviewing. In conducting this study, I am planning on reaching out to the variety of Asian American communities/organizations on campus to find interested participants who are willing to share their ideas as a Korean American college student.