Vision and Performance. The Sociolinguistic Analysis of Genres and Its Application to Focussed Ethnographic Data

Bernt Schnettler

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.4.3.05

Authors

Bernt Schnettler Technishe Universität Berlin, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.4.3.05

Keywords:

Video-data, Genre-analysis, Ethnography, Religious experiences, New religious movements

Abstract

The use of audiovisual recording devices is changing the practice of qualitative research. Extensive corpus of data can be generated in (shortterm) focussed fieldwork. Nevertheless, methods to analyse video data are still in an experimental stage. This article explores the benefits and limitations of applying sociolinguistic genre analysis to audio-visual data. This is illustrated with a case study, based on the videotaped »deep-trance vision« of a New Religious Movement’s spiritual leader, which is one the most famous contemporary religious visionaries in Germany. The analysis aims to reconstruct the construction of this religious experience of transcendence from the perspective of its followers. We will examine three different levels of communication (a) the inner context, exploring the textual, gestural, mimical and prosodic aspects, (b) the intermediate level where the focus lies on the setting and decorum, and finally (c) the outer context, focussing on the social embedding of this form of »transcendent« communication and its filmic presentation. The article closes with a reflection on the need to combine hermeneutic analysis of case studies based on textual analysis with ethnographic field data and observation to contextualise its interpretation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Bernt Schnettler, Technishe Universität Berlin, Germany

Bernt Schnettler, Dr. phil, Assistant Professor, Technical University Berlin, Department of Sociology Dr. phil. (Sociology, TU Berlin), M.A. (Sociology, Psychology, University of Constance), Currently: visiting Professor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, member of the Executive Board of the ESA RN Qualitative Methods, member of the executive Board of the RN Sociology of Knowledge, German Sociological Association Research interests: sociology of knowledge, communication, religion, phenomenology, interpretative methods, especially video-analysis, genre analysis, sociological hermeneutics Recent publications include Thomas Luckmann, Konstanz: UVK, 2006; Präsentationen. Formen der visuellen Kommunikation von Wissen (ed. with Hubert Knoblauch): Konstanz: UVK 2007, Video-Analysis. Methodology and Methods. Qualitative Audiovisual Data Analysis in Sociology, (ed.with Hubert Knoblauch, Jürgen Raab y Hans-Georg Soeffner), Frankfurt am Main, New York: Peter Lang 2006; Erving Goffman: Rede-Weisen. Formen der Kommunikation in sozialen Situationen (ed. with Hubert Knoblauch & Christine Leuenberger), Konstanz: UVK 2005, Methodologie Interpretativer Sozialforschung. Klassische Grundlagentexte, (ed. with Jörg Strübing), Konstanz: UVK/UTB 2004, see http://www2.tu-berlin.de/fb7/ifs/soziologie/AllgSoz/mitarbeiter/schnettler/schnettlerpublikationen. htm for a complete list of publications

References

Aufschnaiter, Stefan von and Manuela Welzel (2001) Nutzung von Videodaten zur Untersuchung von Lehr- und Lernprozessen. Münster: Waxmann.
Google Scholar

Ayaß, Ruth (1997) “Die kleinen Propheten des ›Worts zum Sonntag“. Zeitschrift für Soziologie 26:222–235.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/zfsoz-1997-0304

Banks, Marcus and Howard Morphy (1997) Rethinking Visual Anthropology. New Haven: Yale.
Google Scholar

Benz, Ernst (1969) Die Vision. Erscheinungsform und Bilderwelt. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta.
Google Scholar

Bergmann, Jörg (1985) “Flüchtigkeit und methodische Fixierung sozialer Wirklichkeit.“ Pp. 299–320 in Entzauberte Wissenschaft (Soziale Welt, Sonderband 3), edited by W. Bonß and H. Hartmann. Göttingen: Schwartz.
Google Scholar

Bergmann, Jörg, Thomas Luckmann, and Hans-Georg Soeffner (1993) „Erscheinungsformen von Charisma – Zwei Päpste.“ Pp. 121–155 in Charisma – Theorie, Religion, Politik, edited by W. Gebhardt, A. Zingerle and M. N. Ebertz. Berlin/New York: De Gruyter.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110889796.121

Bryson, Norman, Keith Moxey and Ann Holly (1991) “Visual Culture. Images and Interpretation.” Middletown: Wesleyan University Press.
Google Scholar

Christian, William A., Jr. (1996) Visionaries: The Spanish Republic and the Reign of Christ. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Google Scholar

Collier, John (1967) Visual Anthropology. Photography as a Research Method. New York: Sage.
Google Scholar

Davies, Charlotte Aull (1999) “Using visual media.” Pp. 117–135 in Reflexive Anthropology, edited by C. A. Davies. London, New York: Routledge.
Google Scholar

de Miguel, Jesús M. and Carmelo Pinto (2002) Sociología Visual, vol. 186. Madrid: Centro de Investigaciónes Sociológicas.
Google Scholar

Denzin, Norman K. (2000) “Reading Film – Filme und Videos als sozialwissenschaftliches Erfahrungsmaterial.“ Pp. 416–428 in Qualitative Forschung. Ein Handbuch, edited by U. Flick, E. v. Kardoff and I. Steinke. Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt.
Google Scholar

Dinzelbacher, Peter (1981) Vision und Visionsliteratur im Mittelalter (Monographien zur Geschichte des Mittelalters, vol. 23). Stuttgart.
Google Scholar

Emmison, Michael J. and Philip D. Smith (2000) Researching the Visual. London: Sage.
Google Scholar

Englisch, Felicitas (1991) “Bildanalyse in strukturalhermeneutischer Einstellung. Methodische Überlegungen und Analysebeispiele.“ Pp. 133–176 in Qualitativempirische
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-97024-4_5

Sozialforschung, edited by D. Garz and K. Kraimer. Opladen: Westdeutscher.
Google Scholar

Evans, Jessica and Stuart Hall (1999) Visual Culture. The Reader. London: Sage.
Google Scholar

Goffman, Erving (1981) “Footing.” Pp. 124–157 in Forms of Talk. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Google Scholar

Goodman, Felictas (1972) Speaking in Tongues. A Cross-Cultural Study of Glossolalia. Chicago, London.
Google Scholar

Goodwin, Charles (1994) “Recording human interaction in natural settings.” Pragmatics. 3:181–209.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/prag.3.2.05goo

Goodwin, Charles (2000) »Practices of Seeing: Visual Analysis: An Ethnomethodological Approach«. Pp. 157–182 in Handbook of Visual Analysis, edited by T. v. Leeuwen and C. Jewitt. London: Sage Publications.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9780857020062.n8

Goodwin, Charles and Marjarie Harness Goodwin (1996) “Seeing as situated activity: formulating planes.” Pp. 61–95 in Cognition and Communication at work, edited by Y. Engeström and D. Middleton. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139174077.004

Günthner, Susanne and Hubert Knoblauch (1995) “Culturally Patterned Speaking Practices – The Analysis of Communicative Genres.” Pragmatics 5:1–32.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/prag.5.1.03gun

Hahn, Johann G. (1991) “Die Bedeutung des kleinsten Details. Bausteine zur analytischen Interpretation sich bewegender Bilder.“ Pp. 91–132 in Hinter den Augen ein eigenes Bild. Film und Spiritualität, edited by M. Kuhn. Zürich: Benziger.
Google Scholar

Heath, Christian (1986) Body Movement and Speech in Medical Interaction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511628221

Heath, Christian (1997a) “The Analysis of Activities in Face to Face Interaction Using Video.” Pp. 183–200 in Qualitative Research. Theory, Method, and Practice, edited by D. Silverman. London: Sage.
Google Scholar

Heath, Christian (1997b) “Video and sociology: the material and interactional organization of social action in naturally occuring settings.” Champs visuels 6:37–46.
Google Scholar

Heath, Christian and Jon Hindmarsh (2002) “Analysing Interaction: Video, Ethnography and Situated Conduct.” Pp. 99–121 in Qualitative Research in Action, edited by M. Tim. London: Sage.
Google Scholar

Heath, Christian and Paul Luff (1996) “Convergent activities: Line control and passenger information on the London Undergroung.” Pp. 96–129 in Cognition and communication at work, edited by Y. Engeström and D. Middleton. Cambridge: Cambrigde University Press.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139174077.005

Heath, Christian, Paul Luff, and Hubert Knoblauch (2004) “Tools, Technologies and Organizational Interaction: The Emergence of the ‘Workplace Studies’.” Pp. 337–358 in The Sage Handbook of Organizational Discourse, edited by D. Grant, C. Hardy, C. Oswick, and L. Putnam. London: Sage.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781848608122.n16

Heath, Christian and Dirk vom Lehn (2004) “Configuring Reception. (Dis-)Regarding the ›Spectator‹ in Museums and Galleries.” Theory, Culture & Society 21:43–65.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0263276404047415

Heßler, Martina (2005) “Bilder zwischen Kunst und Wissenschaft.“ Geschichte und Gesellschaft 31:266–292.
Google Scholar

Hitzler, Ronald (1991) “Dummheit als Methode.“ Pp. 295–318 in Qualitativempirische Sozialforschung, edited by D. Garz and K. Kraimer. Opladen: Westdeutscher.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-97024-4_9

Holert, Tom (2000) “Bildfähigkeiten.“ Pp. 14–33 in Imagineering. Visuelle Kultur und Politik der Sichtbarkeit, edited by ders. Köln: Oktagon.
Google Scholar

Jordan, Brigitte and Austin Henderson (1995) “Interaction analysis: Foundations and Practice.” Journal of the Learning Sciences 4:39–103.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327809jls0401_2

Keppler, Angela (1985) Präsentation und Information. Zur politischen Berichterstattung im Fernsehen. Tübingen: Narr.
Google Scholar

Knoblauch, Hubert (1996) “Gattungslehre.“ Pp. 557–564 in Historisches Wörterbuch der Rhetorik. Bd. 3, edited by G. Ueding. Tübingen: Niemeyer.
Google Scholar

Knoblauch, Hubert (1998) “Transzendenzerfahrung und symbolische Kommunikation. Die phänomenologisch orientierte Soziologie und die kommunikative Konstruktion
Google Scholar

der Religion.“ Pp. 147–186 in Religion als Kommunikation, edited by H. Tyrell, V. Krech, and H. Knoblauch. Würzburg: Ergon.
Google Scholar

Knoblauch, Hubert (1999) “Die Rhetorik amerikanischer Radiohörer-Telefonate während des Golfkriegs.“ Pp. 61–86 in Kommunikative Konstruktion von Moral. Band 1:
Google Scholar

Struktur und Dynamik der Formen moralischer Kommunikation, vol. 1, edited by J. Bergmann and T. Luckmann. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag.
Google Scholar

Knoblauch, Hubert (2000) “Workplace Studies und Video. Zur Entwicklung der Ethnographie von Technologie und Arbeit.“ Pp. 159–173 in Arbeitskulturen im Umbruch. Zur
Google Scholar

Ethnographie von Arbeit und Organisation, edited by I. Götz and A. Wittel. Münster, New York, München, Berlin: Waxmann.
Google Scholar

Knoblauch, Hubert (2004) “Die Video-Interaktions-Analyse.“ Sozialer sinn 1:123–138.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sosi-2004-0107

Knoblauch, Hubert (2005) “Focused Ethnography.” Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research [Online Journal] 6: Art 44, Available at
Google Scholar

http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs-texte/3-05/05-3-44-e.htm
Google Scholar

Knoblauch, Hubert (2006) “Videography. Focused Ethnography and Video Analysis.” Pp. 69–83 in Video Analysis – Methodology and Methods. Qualitative Audiovisual Data
Google Scholar

Analysis in Sociology, edited by H. Knoblauch, B. Schnettler, J. Raab, and H.-G. Soeffner. Frankfurt am Main, New York etc.: Lang.
Google Scholar

Knoblauch, Hubert and Jürgen Raab (2001) “Genres and the Aesthetics of Advertisement Spots.” Pp. 195–222 in Verbal Art across Cultures. The Aesthetics and Proto-Aesthetics of Communication, edited by H. Kotthoff and H. Knoblauch. Tübingen: Gunter Narr.
Google Scholar

Knoblauch, Hubert and Bernt Schnettler (2001) “Die kulturelle Sinnprovinz der Zukunftsvision und die Ethnophänomenologie.“ Psychotherapie und Sozialwissenschaft. Zeitschrift für qualitative Forschung 3:182–203.
Google Scholar

Knoblauch, Hubert, Bernt Schnettler, and Jürgen Raab (2006a) “Video-Analysis. Methodological Aspects of Interpretive Audiovisual Analysis in Social Research.” Pp. 9–26 in Video-Analysis. Methodology and Methods, edited by H. Knoblauch, B. Schnettler, J. Raab, and H.-G. Soeffner. Frankfurt am Main, New York etc.: Lang.
Google Scholar

Knoblauch, Hubert, Bernt Schnettler, Hans-Georg Soeffner, and Jürgen Raab (2006b) “Video Analysis – Methodology and Methods. Qualitative Audiovisual Data Analysis in Sociology.” edited by H. Knoblauch, B. Schnettler, J. Raab, and H.-G. Soeffner. Frankfurt am Main: Lang.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.3726/978-3-653-02667-2

Kotthoff, Helga (1995) “The Social Semiotics of Georgian Toast Performances: Oral Genre as Cultural Activity.” Journal of Pragmatics 24:353–380.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-2166(94)00063-K

Kotthoff, Helga (1999) “Die Kommunikation von Moral in georgischen Lamentationen.“ Pp. 50–80 in Kommunikative Konstruktion von Moral. Band 2: Von der Moral zu den Moralen, edited by J. Bergmann and T. Luckmann. Opladen: Westdeutscher.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-663-12193-0_2

Kotthoff, Helga (2001) “Aesthetic Dimensions of Georgian Grief Rituals: On the Artful Display of Emotions in Lamentations.” Pp. 167–194 in Verbal Art Across Cultures. The
Google Scholar

Aesthetics and Proto-Aethetics of Communication, edited by H. Knoblauch and H. Kotthoff. Tübingen: Narr.
Google Scholar

Lomax, Helen and Neil Casey (1998) “Recording social life: reflexivity and video methodology.” Sociological Research Online 3.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.5153/sro.1372

Luckmann, Thomas (1967) The Invisible Religion. New York: MacMillan.
Google Scholar

Luckmann, Thomas (1985) “The Analysis of Communicative Genres.” Pp. 48–61 in Focus on Quality. Selected Proceedings of a Conference on Qualitative Research Methodology in the Social Sciences, edited by B. F. Nell, R. Singh, and W. M. Venter. Durban: Institute for Social and Economic Research.
Google Scholar

Luckmann, Thomas (1986) “Grundformen der gesellschaftlichen Vermittlung des Wissens: Kommunikative Gattungen.“ Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie Sonderheft 27:191–211.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-91077-6_10

Luckmann, Thomas (1988) “Kommunikative Gattungen im kommunikativen Haushalt einer Gesellschaft.“ Pp. 279–288 in Der Ursprung der Literatur, edited by G. Smolka-Kordt, P. M. Spangenberg, and D. Tillmann-Bartylla. München: Fink.
Google Scholar

Luckmann, Thomas and Hubert Knoblauch (2004) “Genre Analysis.” Pp. 303–307 in A Companion to Qualitative Research, edited by U. Flick, E. von Kardoff, and I. Steinke. London: Sage.
Google Scholar

Luff, Paul, Jon Hindmarsh, and Christian Heath (2000) “Workplace Studies. Recovering Work Practice and Informing System Design.” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511628122

Mead, Margarete (1975) “Visual Anthropology in a Discipline of Words.” Pp. 3–10 in Principles of Visual Anthropology, edited by P. Hockings. The Hague, Paris: Mouton.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783112415405-003

Meier, Christoph (1998) “Zur Untersuchung von Arbeits- und Interaktionsprozessen anhand von Videoaufzeichnungen.“ Arbeit 7:257–275.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/arbeit-1998-0305

Mirzoeff, Nicolas (1999) An Introduction to Visual Culture. London: Routledge.
Google Scholar

Mohr, Hubert (2000) “Vision/Audition.” Pp. 570–577 in Metzler Lexikon Religion, edited by C. e. a. Auffahrt.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-476-03704-6_166

Pink, Sarah (2001) “More visualising, more methodologies: on video, reflexivity and qualitative research.” Sociological Review 49:586–599.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-954X.00349

Pink, Sarah (2007) Doing Visual Ethnography. Images, Media and Representation in Research (2nd Edition). London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage.
Google Scholar

Raab, Jürgen and Dirk Tänzler (2006) “Video-Hermeneutics.“ Pp. 85–97 in Video Analysis. Methodology and Methods. Qualitative Audiovisual Analysis in Sociology, edited by H. Knoblauch, B. Schnettler, J. Raab and H.-G. Soeffner. Wien, Berlin: Lang.
Google Scholar

Rammert, Werner and Cornelius Schubert (2006) “Technographie. Zur Mikrosoziologie der Technik.“ Frankfurt am Main: Campus.
Google Scholar

Rose, Diana (2000) “Analysis of Moving Pictures.” Pp. 246–262 in Qualitative Researching with Text, Image, and Sound. A Practical Handbook, edited by M. W. Bauer and G. Gaskell. London: Sage.
Google Scholar

Rose, Gilian (2007) Visual Methodologies. An Introduction to the Interpretation of Visual Materials (2nd Edition). London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage.
Google Scholar

Schändlinger, Robert (1998) Erfahrungsbilder. Visuelle Soziologie und dokumentarischer Film. Konstanz: UVK.
Google Scholar

Schlenk, Franz (1999) “Großmama und Drache. Frau Bertschinger als Uriella.“ Pp. 61–64 in Das Ende der Welt, edited by G. O. Schmid. Zürich.
Google Scholar

Schmid, Sigrid (2006) “Video Analysis in Qualitative Market Research – from Viscous Reality to Catchy Footage.” Pp. 191–201 in Video Analysis. Methodology and Methods., edited by H. Knoblauch, B. Schnettler, J. Raab, and H.-G. Soeffner. Frankfurt am Main: Lang.
Google Scholar

Schnettler, Bernt (1999) “Millenniumswechsel und populare Apokalyptik. Prophetische Visionen an der Schwelle zum Jahr 2000.“ Pp. 385–413 in Diesseitsreligion. Zur Deutung der Bedeutung moderner Kultur, edited by A. Honer, R. Kurt, and J. Reichertz. Konstanz: UVK.
Google Scholar

Schnettler, Bernt (2001) “Vision und Performanz. Zur soziolinguistischen Gattungsanalyse fokussierter ethnographischer Daten.“ Sozialer sinn. Zeitschrift für hermeneutische Sozialforschung 1:143–163.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sosi-2001-0106

Schnettler, Bernt (2004) Zukunftsvisionen. Transzendenzerfahrung und Alltagswelt. Konstanz: UVK.
Google Scholar

Schubert, Cornelius (2006) Die Praxis der Apparatemedizin. Ärzte und Technik im Operationssaal. Frankfurt am Main: Campus.
Google Scholar

Schulz, Martin (2005) Ordnungen der Bilder. Eine Einführung in die Bildwissenschaft. München: Fink.
Google Scholar

Schütz, Alfred (1962[1945]) “On Multiple Realities.” Pp. 207–259 in Collected Papers. The Hague: Nijhoff.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2851-6_9

Schütz, Alfred (2004[1953]) “Common-Sense und wissenschaftliche Interpretation menschlichen Handels.“ Pp. 157–197 in Methodologie interpretativer Sozialforschung. Klassische Grundlagentexte, edited by J. Strübing and B. Schnettler. Konstanz: UTB.
Google Scholar

Schutz, Alfred and Thomas Luckmann (1973) The Structures of the Life-World I. Evanston, Ill: Northwestern University Press.
Google Scholar

Selting, Margret, Peter Auer, Birgit Barden, Jörg Bergmann, Elizabeth Couper-Kuhlen, Susanne Günthner, Christoph Meier, Uta Quasthoff, Peter Schlobinski, and Susanne Uhmann (1998) “Gesprächsanalytisches Transkriptionssystem (GAT).” Linguistische Berichte: 91–122.
Google Scholar

Soeffner, Hans-Georg (2006) »Visual Sociology on the Base of ›Visual Photographic Concentration‹«. Pp. 205–217 in Video-Analysis. Methodology and Methods, edited by H. Knoblauch, B. Schnettler, J. Raab, and H.-G. Soeffner. Wien, Berlin: Lang.
Google Scholar

Stark, Werner (1987) “Religion.” Pp. 83–85 in Sociolinguistics. An International Handbook of the Science of Language and Society, edited by U. Ammon, N. Dittmar, and K. J. Mattheier. Berlin, New York: de Gruyter.
Google Scholar

Südmersen, Ilse M. (1983) “Hilfe, ich ersticke in Texten! Eine Anleitung zur Aufarbeitung narrativer Interviews.“ Neue Praxis 3:294–306.
Google Scholar

vom Lehn, Dirk (2006) “Die Kunst der Kunstbetrachtung: Aspekte einer Pragmatischen Ästhetik in Kunstausstellungen.“ Soziale Welt 57:83–100.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0038-6073-2006-1-83

Walker, John A. and Sarah Chaplin (1997) “The concept of the visual.” Pp. 18–30 in Visual Culture – An Introduction, edited by J. A. Walker and S. Chaplin. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Google Scholar

Weber, Max (1988 [1921]) “Das Antike Judentum. Kap II: Die Entstehung des jüdischen Pariavolkes.“ Pp. 281–400 in Gesammelte Aufsätze zur Religionssoziologie III. Tübingen: Mohr.
Google Scholar

Yamane, David (2000) “Narrative and Religious Experience.” Sociology of Religion 61:171–189.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3712284

Yamane, David and Megan Polzer (1994) “Ways of Seeing Ecstasy in Modern Society. Experiential-Expressive and Cultural-Linguistic Views.” Sociology of Religion 55:1–25.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3712173