My habitat

I've been doing a lot of my qualitative research readings today. I'm mainly into performance ethnograhic stuff, so I've been reviewing a lot of the ethnographic literature. The reading has got me thinking again about really detached modes of research.

So, what would an ethnographic account of the doctoral student look like?

(In ten minutes or less. You must return to work in 10 minutes, Self!)

The doctoral student sits on a red futon that is strewn with several books. She sits with a laptop on her lap, and is wearing a striped bikini top and green shorts. Around her, on the floor, rests an almost-empty Gatorade bottle, a coffee cup, and a bottle of water. A black and white cat sleeps next to her. In this period of observation, she has not engaged in any human interaction. (She did, however, give the cat some of her organic tuna helper.) Her face is largely expressionless as her attention shifts between the books and the laptop. She is engaged in some sort of dance between them. She does not seem to be happy, and she frequently looks at the clock and sighs. The doctoral student lives an isolated existence. She occasionally turns and strokes the cat. She sometimes puts a contraption on her ears that plays music and she sings to herself.

I hate comps! I want to be outside, damnit!