|
|
|
Becky Schulthies
Morocco
February 2004
Everyday Phrases
"Shuf, shuf hadshi (Look, look at this)."
One of the everyday phrases that pervades my research is a discourse cue initiating family commentaries, discussions and negotiations of television content in Morocco. The television in most Moroccan homes occupies a prominent position, and as several people have informed me, is like a member of the family. It operates as background for daily life in most homes. The stereotypes of viewing practices linked with particular genders abound (men like sports and news, women watch only Egyptian and Mexican soaps), but the daily realizations are much more blurred and varied. I have enjoyed making sense of Moroccan reasoning processes with regard to viewing choices, but I am even more intrigued with how they make sense of what they are watching.
"Hawaar (conversation) is our poetry of today."
Although the process of obtaining research clearance to conduct fieldwork with human subjects has been challenging, I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting families to deepen my understanding of the general cultural, political, religious and historical background drawn upon by families to make sense of media stimuli in the home. I had been to Morocco previously, but this extended stay has certainly broadened my awareness of the complexity, variability and continuity present in Moroccan daily life. One of my greatest challenges and accomplishments has been with the language itself. I studied Arabic for a number of years before conducting my research in Morocco, but it took about four months in the country to attain a comfortable level of communication. I am constantly fascinated by the vocal artistry displayed every day by Moroccans who monitor, evaluate and find novel ways to impact their worlds. Increasingly, I am drawn to the translation process by which television content in fusha (Modern Standard Arabic) or French is transmitted for individuals who have not the benefit of formal education, and the role that younger children play in framing these reception channels.
"TV is how we stroll the world while sitting in our living rooms."
My success in understanding domestic interpretation of events is largely dependent on the hospitality and generosity extended to me by the families who have agreed to work with me. Their openness and trust in me, as an American researcher in a part of the world where American foreign policy is highly suspect, really indicates to me how refined their analyses of global relations can be. While conducting my own research, I am being observed and interviewed as a representative of American life and practices. As I move into the audio/video recording stage of my research, I hope to discover the verbal and non-verbal indicators of stance and positionality contributing to the negotiation of TV space. I am also in the midst of observing the give and take that occurs as various family members determine what program will be watched, and what constitutes appropriate viewing behavior.
|
|
