Yesterday I had a lengthened training session on qualitative research. During a casual talk in tea time, a Brazilian(?) girl Leiz told me about her previous fieldwork, which was about "disadvantaged farm workers". Well, I did not really consider my subjects of research can be labeled "disadvantaged" because I think the are the masters of the grassland in certain terms. However, her suggestions were useful that I should try everything to blend into the setting. This includes wearing similar clothes (I was wearing a Nike jumpsuit during the talk with her), do not mention terms like "university" "science(-tific)" "PhD" during the interview or observation, and be genuine about my attitude towards them.
The last question forced me to muse on what role shall I take if I am not appearing as a research student. A curious tourist? A helper? Perhaps the role of a curious learner is suitable, which is also advocated by some anthropologists in their books. Hmm. Perhaps I should tell the government and the herdsmen that I want to learn how to manage herds. It is not completely a lie, though I need to talk to my supervisors about such ethical issue.
2007年1月21日星期日
Week 16: Methodology and method
The first two days of the week I tried to find out what are the missing details in my methodology review, so I borrowed books on anthropology from the library and read them through. I must admit this is awkward. I could hardly find large useful trunks from these books because I had written them in the review already. The more intriguing detail were also hard to grasp in my speedy reading. Anyway, it is not very useful to make a too detailed plan for anthropology research as much of it would be rendered useless in the field. A recon study may help me better find out suitable methods.
The rest of the week is for funding again. I rewrote my proposal, which was not specified and attractive enough. I also tried to fill in a range of forms required by those grant-making agencies. Yes it is a especially useful skill either for a scholar or for a NGO staff.
The rest of the week is for funding again. I rewrote my proposal, which was not specified and attractive enough. I also tried to fill in a range of forms required by those grant-making agencies. Yes it is a especially useful skill either for a scholar or for a NGO staff.
2007年1月20日星期六
从后殖民主义视点看《Babel》
Spoiler warning: 正文基本没有剧透，但评论中可能有剧透。
目前为止我看过两个南美导演的四部影片：《上帝之城》《the Constant Gardener》《21克》和这部《Babel》，感觉他们都有共同的特点——绚丽的色彩，集中的冲突，以及从各个角度解读的可能性。对我而言，《Babel》是 一部拍给第一世界，或者“北方”的观众看的影片。但对于他们而言，这部电影也可以仅仅解读为对互相理解的呼唤，而对我这个来自第三世界（请允许我继续把中国看作一个第三世界国家）或者说“南方”的观众而言，这部电影是从一个后殖民主义，或者说萨义德式的视点，所看到的西方和全球化的世界。
影片的故事发生在三个地区：摩洛哥，美国／墨西哥边境，以及日本的大城市，这三个地点通过一条体现了南北方人和物的流动的线索串在一起，而分别体现了后殖民主义话语的三个主题。
摩洛哥的故事体现的是“西方”对“东方”的脸谱化理解（profiling）和“西方”一直以来从他们的价值观出发，而对东方产生的印象——不开化的，奇异 神秘的，带有猎奇的兴趣的，以及危险的。一开始美国使馆将事件定义为“恐怖袭击”，在今天看来自然是有一种滑稽的意味，但更值得注意的是那些被迫驻留在摩洛哥山村中的美国游客的反应。他们在模仿西方的餐馆中还可以用西方的方式用餐，说笑，同时在安全的距离内观赏这个陌生的国度，而当他们处于真正的摩洛哥国民的凝视之下时，他们更多地感觉到被侵犯，不安，同时在内部产生了不信任和急切的离开这种环境的愿望。而主人公夫妇在被迫地接受创痛体验之余，终于可以以 一种不是那样居高临下的视角来看待这个国家和她的人民，同时获得一种非殖民主义的观感。
美国的故事则反映了“北方”对“南方”的文化疏离。美墨边境在这里成为一种如此有效的文化隔离手段，以致于两个美国孩子在离家仅仅几百公里的地方看到的就与他们平常的生活有着天渊之别。而“北方”与 “南方”文化上的交流也正如美国的边境检查一样，是单向的。从这个意义上说，我们真正地实现了全球化吗？这样的全球化仍然是一种殖民主义的全球化，仍然是“北方”的文化向“南方”的单向传播，而“南方”色彩鲜活的一面，却是很难被“北方”的人们发现的。这个故事的女主人公的遭遇，也成了“北方”对“南方”的疏远的注脚——外来者永远是外来者，哪怕她倾注了那么多的爱和建立了那么强烈的感情纽带。
日本的故事在时间线上发生最晚，也是整个故事的收尾。虽然日本并不是一个严格意义上的后殖民国家，但聋哑女高中生的故事仍然是一个后殖民主义诉求的载体，同时也带有女性主义（Feminism，注意 不是女权主义）的色彩。聋哑暗喻了“东方”在二十世纪中期及之前的失语状态，在这之后，“东方”的后殖民国家及它们代表的文化希望反抗“西方”的主流文化，但女性主义的诉求并不包括“东方”文化对西方的反征服，而是希望“西方”的，男性的殖民文化能够在当今以平等的态度注意、认同和理解“东方”的非侵略性的，女性的文化。最后的镜头是温暖的，也是片中出现多次的主题的又一次强调（数一数有多少拥抱的镜头）。作为观众的我们，自然也希望人们在经历了那样多的创痛之后，能够实现理解和接纳，从而让人类作为一个整体走向新的未来。
在电影院里，借着撩人的音乐和画面，这部影片把人类的欢乐和创伤都刻画得如此的生动，我们满可以就把它看作一个美国家庭在世界的遥远角落经历孤独和伤痛的 故事，也可以把它看作一个有关话语和理解的寓言，但是作为一个来自后殖民国家，在一个老牌殖民帝国本土观看这部影片的观众，我想我有必要借着它提出我的质询：是什么首先建造了巴别塔——变乱之塔？我们是否可能在这么多互相误解和忽视造成的创伤之后，拥抱对方，再携手前进？而走近到可以拥抱的距离，又要再付出多少代价？
目前为止我看过两个南美导演的四部影片：《上帝之城》《the Constant Gardener》《21克》和这部《Babel》，感觉他们都有共同的特点——绚丽的色彩，集中的冲突，以及从各个角度解读的可能性。对我而言，《Babel》是 一部拍给第一世界，或者“北方”的观众看的影片。但对于他们而言，这部电影也可以仅仅解读为对互相理解的呼唤，而对我这个来自第三世界（请允许我继续把中国看作一个第三世界国家）或者说“南方”的观众而言，这部电影是从一个后殖民主义，或者说萨义德式的视点，所看到的西方和全球化的世界。
影片的故事发生在三个地区：摩洛哥，美国／墨西哥边境，以及日本的大城市，这三个地点通过一条体现了南北方人和物的流动的线索串在一起，而分别体现了后殖民主义话语的三个主题。
摩洛哥的故事体现的是“西方”对“东方”的脸谱化理解（profiling）和“西方”一直以来从他们的价值观出发，而对东方产生的印象——不开化的，奇异 神秘的，带有猎奇的兴趣的，以及危险的。一开始美国使馆将事件定义为“恐怖袭击”，在今天看来自然是有一种滑稽的意味，但更值得注意的是那些被迫驻留在摩洛哥山村中的美国游客的反应。他们在模仿西方的餐馆中还可以用西方的方式用餐，说笑，同时在安全的距离内观赏这个陌生的国度，而当他们处于真正的摩洛哥国民的凝视之下时，他们更多地感觉到被侵犯，不安，同时在内部产生了不信任和急切的离开这种环境的愿望。而主人公夫妇在被迫地接受创痛体验之余，终于可以以 一种不是那样居高临下的视角来看待这个国家和她的人民，同时获得一种非殖民主义的观感。
美国的故事则反映了“北方”对“南方”的文化疏离。美墨边境在这里成为一种如此有效的文化隔离手段，以致于两个美国孩子在离家仅仅几百公里的地方看到的就与他们平常的生活有着天渊之别。而“北方”与 “南方”文化上的交流也正如美国的边境检查一样，是单向的。从这个意义上说，我们真正地实现了全球化吗？这样的全球化仍然是一种殖民主义的全球化，仍然是“北方”的文化向“南方”的单向传播，而“南方”色彩鲜活的一面，却是很难被“北方”的人们发现的。这个故事的女主人公的遭遇，也成了“北方”对“南方”的疏远的注脚——外来者永远是外来者，哪怕她倾注了那么多的爱和建立了那么强烈的感情纽带。
日本的故事在时间线上发生最晚，也是整个故事的收尾。虽然日本并不是一个严格意义上的后殖民国家，但聋哑女高中生的故事仍然是一个后殖民主义诉求的载体，同时也带有女性主义（Feminism，注意 不是女权主义）的色彩。聋哑暗喻了“东方”在二十世纪中期及之前的失语状态，在这之后，“东方”的后殖民国家及它们代表的文化希望反抗“西方”的主流文化，但女性主义的诉求并不包括“东方”文化对西方的反征服，而是希望“西方”的，男性的殖民文化能够在当今以平等的态度注意、认同和理解“东方”的非侵略性的，女性的文化。最后的镜头是温暖的，也是片中出现多次的主题的又一次强调（数一数有多少拥抱的镜头）。作为观众的我们，自然也希望人们在经历了那样多的创痛之后，能够实现理解和接纳，从而让人类作为一个整体走向新的未来。
在电影院里，借着撩人的音乐和画面，这部影片把人类的欢乐和创伤都刻画得如此的生动，我们满可以就把它看作一个美国家庭在世界的遥远角落经历孤独和伤痛的 故事，也可以把它看作一个有关话语和理解的寓言，但是作为一个来自后殖民国家，在一个老牌殖民帝国本土观看这部影片的观众，我想我有必要借着它提出我的质询：是什么首先建造了巴别塔——变乱之塔？我们是否可能在这么多互相误解和忽视造成的创伤之后，拥抱对方，再携手前进？而走近到可以拥抱的距离，又要再付出多少代价？
2007年1月17日星期三
Idea Retailer
Today I had a meeting with my supervisors concerning my research proposal for funding applications. I should say it is the first time I write a proposal for *real* funding application. And what I learned back in China is quite different from the conventions here. The comments given by my supervisors include:
In a word, what I am trying to do is selling my idea. So I need to make a good packaging.
- Put research aim at first, then a little saucy background, then objectives, then methodology;
- Emphasise interdisciplinary research and justification on the reason to use them;
- Put site selection in a separate section instead of in methodology;
- Use precise figures in budget estimations, and be prepared to spend a lot in the field even if the price level is low there;
- Use Gantt Chart-like figures in the schedule part, illustrating fieldwork only;
- Be more specified;
- State that I will follow the School's health and safety guidelines (with URL).
In a word, what I am trying to do is selling my idea. So I need to make a good packaging.
2007年1月15日星期一
1/5
因为急于知道自己平时跑步的里程，又没时间拿着 GPS 去一步一步量，于是打起了 Google Earth/Map 的主意。Google Earth 虽然也有测量工具，无奈我住的地方没有高分辨率的卫星图像，也不知道自己量的有多大误差。于是在网上找了一下，发现了这个网站：www.mapmyrun.com。它是 Google Maps 的一个 hack，在 GMap 的基础上增加了测量工具。这下终于可以比较准确地知道自己跑了多少路了
。而且它还附带高程图和卡路里计算工具，实在是很趁手。Hardcore 的跑步者还可以与朋友交换自己的跑步路线，以及把自己的路线发布出来作为炫耀之用……然而，当我想测一下T大马圈的长度时，才想起来为了保护国家机密，T大以及其他许多大学的地图在 Google Maps 上都是找不到的……只好借助卫星图像粗略描了一下。
效果见下图（点击为大图）：
另外还有高程示意图：
。而且它还附带高程图和卡路里计算工具，实在是很趁手。Hardcore 的跑步者还可以与朋友交换自己的跑步路线，以及把自己的路线发布出来作为炫耀之用……然而，当我想测一下T大马圈的长度时，才想起来为了保护国家机密，T大以及其他许多大学的地图在 Google Maps 上都是找不到的……只好借助卫星图像粗略描了一下。效果见下图（点击为大图）：
另外还有高程示意图：
嗯……目前自己跑这条8公里的路线速度跟马拉松的时候差不多，但是让我连续跑这样的5圈肯定没法达到那样的速度。另外如上图所示，快一半的地方那个大下坡实在是让人占便宜不少，所以真正平路上跑的平均速度能不能达到05年马拉松的水平，还值得怀疑……（另一方面，这也说明这条路线反过来跑更加过瘾）。要想证明自己还没老的话，速度和力量都要练才行，哼唧。
2007年1月13日星期六
Week 15: Non-academic but crucial
This week's major activity is not very "academic", I should say. I spent most of the time trying to find suitable fund providers and write a proposal that is persuading enough.
The proposal was very different from the one I used to apply for the opportunity to study in my university. This time I had better considerations about the project, the methodology, outcomes, and possible limitations. Writing the proposal also made me think more about the practicality and other issues which may make the project better.
The search for funding was not very rewarding, compared to the time and energy I invested in it. However when I was browsing through the grant maker's category, I realised that Chinese students have more potential funders than they know from their information sources. If I know this from the beginning....
At the same time I realised that I need an ecological assessment to company my "human geographical" methods if I want to realise what I promised on my proposal. Considering the time and resources limit, I think I have to turn to either secondary data or some easy-to-use assessment method (is there any?). I need to persuade my supervisors to let me work on this topic.
Now I feel I have a better grasp of what to expect in the field in April so I become a bit calmer.
The proposal was very different from the one I used to apply for the opportunity to study in my university. This time I had better considerations about the project, the methodology, outcomes, and possible limitations. Writing the proposal also made me think more about the practicality and other issues which may make the project better.
The search for funding was not very rewarding, compared to the time and energy I invested in it. However when I was browsing through the grant maker's category, I realised that Chinese students have more potential funders than they know from their information sources. If I know this from the beginning....
At the same time I realised that I need an ecological assessment to company my "human geographical" methods if I want to realise what I promised on my proposal. Considering the time and resources limit, I think I have to turn to either secondary data or some easy-to-use assessment method (is there any?). I need to persuade my supervisors to let me work on this topic.
Now I feel I have a better grasp of what to expect in the field in April so I become a bit calmer.
Using El Niño to restore grassland?
SpringerLink - Journal Article
I came upon this interesting article this morning. The grassland ecosystem has two or more alternative states and the transitions between these states are often difficult. Grazing pressure and water condition to a large extent controls the states of vegetation. As the left figure shows, the control is non-linear. Between grazing pressure Fc and Fr, the system is in an alternative stable state. By making the system wetter, as the right figure shows, we may be able to increase Fc and Fr so the recovery will be easier. Thus the author suggested that during El Niño which brings considerable precipitation maybe we can make the system go to the high biomass state by controlling grazing. However, field experiment will be needed to determine Fr.
Will this work in Tibet? For El Niño I think the short answer is no. The longer answer: El Niño does bring increased precipitation to Tibet, but that's in winter which does not help growing of grass but decrease the next year's summer precipitation by absorbing energy that pushes rain belt up to the plateau. So in El Niño years things just go worse. But what about La Niña? Perhaps in La Niña years summer precipitation will increase so we can try the trick suggested by the author. I will seek some meteorological data from Lhasa to see if La Niña brings more precipitation in summers.
I came upon this interesting article this morning. The grassland ecosystem has two or more alternative states and the transitions between these states are often difficult. Grazing pressure and water condition to a large extent controls the states of vegetation. As the left figure shows, the control is non-linear. Between grazing pressure Fc and Fr, the system is in an alternative stable state. By making the system wetter, as the right figure shows, we may be able to increase Fc and Fr so the recovery will be easier. Thus the author suggested that during El Niño which brings considerable precipitation maybe we can make the system go to the high biomass state by controlling grazing. However, field experiment will be needed to determine Fr.
Will this work in Tibet? For El Niño I think the short answer is no. The longer answer: El Niño does bring increased precipitation to Tibet, but that's in winter which does not help growing of grass but decrease the next year's summer precipitation by absorbing energy that pushes rain belt up to the plateau. So in El Niño years things just go worse. But what about La Niña? Perhaps in La Niña years summer precipitation will increase so we can try the trick suggested by the author. I will seek some meteorological data from Lhasa to see if La Niña brings more precipitation in summers.
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