A.1 Encounters in the Field and the Archive

Since at least the 19th century scholars of Finno-Ugric studies have emphasized the importance of well-documented materials collected among and with the speakers themselves, which is why fieldwork, along with the archives, forms one of the cornerstones of Finno-Ugric studies. Whether studying old, archival materials, or his/her own field data, researchers should be well informed about the multifaceted backgrounds behind the field work, which guide both the researchers and the informants alike. These are related to research paradigms, archival practices and ideologies, but also for example to bodily and affective aspects of those who encounter in the field or in the archives.

This symposium invites researchers interested in the interaction of researcher and informant and their backgrounds and practices, and in the interface between the field and the archive to discuss the methodological questions related to working in the field and with field work based materials. 

The symposium is organized by the Academy of Finland funded project Russia as a Field and an Archive hosted by the University of Eastern Finland. The convenor of the symposium will be Jyrki Pöysä.

Contact: jyrki.poysa@uef.fi; karina.lukin@helsinki.fi