Faced
with the diversity and wealth of his observations, the anthropologist runs
two opposite risks : either to reduce their content to its textual
aspect, or to be overflowed by his recordings.
Like
men from their side, middle-aged women gather at sunday dance. Sirbi,
Rumania, 1972.
In the company
of my young Rumanian colleagues I would therefore proceed to my observations,
drawings, tape recordings and photographs, so as to seize in their various
perspectives the performances of the multiple agents taking part in the
wedding. I thus tried to complement each observation or recording of any
action, speech or clamour with the comments delivered by the actors, speakers
or singers, on the spot or afterwards , before proceeding to its exegesis.
J.C. :
Le Feu Vivant, la parenté et ses rituels dans les Carpates, Paris,
PUF, 1994, pp. 18-19
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