Ethnographic Café
The Ethnographic Café is a place for ethnographers to meet across disciplines, generations, and countries. We gather to talk about all things ethnographic, from history, design, and method to analysis, writing and dissemination.
We meet monthly on Zoom to discuss a recently published ethnography with its author (see our schedule of events). We also convene periodically for special thematic sessions around a salient topic in the practice of ethnography.
We continue the online conversation through short photographic essays picturing the field, video interviews of ethnographers sharing the nitty-gritty of their fieldwork, reading recommendations contributed by the community, and through a directory that will help ethnographers with shared interests to find each other.
We aim to stimulate and support the work of a new generation of ethnographers, especially doctoral students, postdocs, and junior faculty, and we hope you will join us in this endeavor.
The Ethnographic Café Organizing Team:
Ashley Mears, Ekedi Mpondo-Dika, Loïc Wacquant, and Natalie Pasquinelli
Spring 2025 Schedule
Special Panel on the legacy of Michael Burawoy - Date and details TBD
04/18 Randol Contreras, The Marvelous Ones, in conversation with Ranita Ray
05/09 Special Panel on Gendered Risks in the Field
See the events here!
In Memoriam Michael Burawoy (1947-2025)
The ethnographic community around the world is mourning the tragic passing of Michael Burawoy on February 3, 2025. Michael touched innumerable lives through his publications, teaching, mentoring, fellowship and devotion to sociology. He is gone now but he will continue to live amongst us through his brilliant scholarship, intellectual generosity, and personal kindness. The Café will soon announce a special session in homage to this giant of the ethnographic craft.