Alien anthropology

Purpose

The Alien Anthropology assignment allows you to practice the all-important skill of observation by experiencing your physical surroundings with the mindset of an anthropologist, and recording field notes (descriptions, data, factual, observation-based details) on things that grab your attention.

You will focus closely on describing different “somethings” (objects, people, etc.) using your sense of touch, sight, smell, hearing, and taste. 

What to Do

Step 1

1. Get ready to take field notes! I recommend downloading the Alien Anthropology WorksheeLinks to an external site. by clicking “file”, then “download as MS Word .docx”. You can make multiple copies of this file, or even just copy the prompts into a notebook/journal you use for our class and take with you. Using it should help you remember to write descriptive notes about the thing you’re observing, and cover all five senses, too.
2. With a notebook, journal, or even a notes app on your device, go out into your world. Get out of your bedroom or away from your cubicle at work if you can. Go to multiple places if at all possible.
3. While you are out in these places, find THREE “somethings” that really grab your attention. Each of the three “somethings” must be tangible, physical things: a person, an object, etc. Why? Because you will need to thoroughly observe each of the three “somethings” firsthand and with as many of your sense as possible.  
   • Remember: the “somethings” need to be observed and written about while you observe, so they must be real and concrete. Your choices need to be nouns (people, places, things), not verbs (actions) or abstract concepts.  For example…
     • DON’T write about the concept of cheerleading (to be a cheerleader or to cheerlead is a verb/action/concept, and not appropriate for this assignment).
     • DO observe and record sense-based details/descriptions objects, people, small places, etc. An example would be a cheerleader’s megaphone as opposed to the act of cheerleading (a megaphone is a noun, and is something you can observe with your senses and write a detailed description of).
4. Begin each observation’s entry with the date and time of the observation, the location, and the name of the observed something. (For example: “4/3/24, 3:00pm. Hawk Haven at MUM. Basket of French fries”)  
5. For each observation, write detailed descriptions of the “something” you’re observing that capture your immediate sense-based impressions. Think of these like an anthropologist’s field notes, or like what an alien visiting Earth might write down to take back to their leaders. Jot down all the physical, sense-based details you possibly can.  Observe that item while you write; touch it, move it around if that’s possible, manipulate it in different ways to that you can see, hear, smell, taste, and feel this “something” (via tactile sensation, not emotionally). Attend to each if the five main physical senses. Find ways to observe that will allow to you see, hear, smell, in new ways in order to experience the “something” in ways you wouldn’t normally. Even if this “something” is one you use or see every day, there are likely details you never paid attention to before! 
   • Some “somethings” may not have a scent, or you may not be able to taste them safely. How might you use your burgeoning creative, lateral thinking skills to attend to those senses anyway? Don’t fictionalize details. Instead, find other ways. Can you describe the taste of something via the way it smell Links to an external site.?
   • For those who have different abilities, or who have even recently dealt with Covid-19 symptoms, some senses may not be fully available to you. In this case, you might add a quick note of explanation, and ramp up your descriptions via other senses to meet your word count minimums.
6. Write very detailed sentences for each sense, for each “something”. Don’t just jot down a few words and move on. For the version you turn in, you’ll need good-sized paragraphs, not bullet points, so do as much as you can while you’re observing.

Step 2

After you’ve completed your observation field notes, reread what you’ve written. If you haven’t already, turn them into proper paragraphLinks to an external site. that consist of full sentences, not just fragmentLinks to an external site..

Step 3

Beneath each set of observation notes, free write reflections on each something’s possible meanings. What could that “something” represent, whether to the people who use/experience it, or in another way? What is it, or could it, be a symbol for? What could the significance of each “something” be, based on your observations? 

When you are working on making meaning of each “something”, it can help to consider the people (or “discourse communitieLinks to an external site.“) that are connected to the “something”. Are there connected social issues? Remember that social issues aren’t always overtly political; rather, think about–and note–how they connect to the human condition.

When you look at your observation notes for that “something”, do you see patterns or connections? Perhaps you can make it into a metaphor or a simile, such as “the flag on the pole in front of my house represents the dream my parents had of being American citizens”.

More examples:

• The picture frame is as fractured as the family shown in the photo within it.
• The quilt is like a family tree; each set of stitches made by a different ancestor shows that we come together as one.
• The faded super hero toy reminds me of how real-life heroes can get worn down. Dads, moms, teachers, and others are people, too, are they can’t always stay perfect for us.

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