Why methods matter: how to capture the process of subjectivation of an expert blacksmith?

Abstract

What methods are available to anthropologists to research the subjectivation (or processes of identity formation) of craftspeople? This article offers a methodological reflection on two video methods used to understand the professional subjectivation of Mohammed, an expert blacksmith in the south of Morocco : (1) filming observation, a way of filming that is both embodied and reflexive and (2) video-elicitation a method that shows participants video clips of themselves at work as a means of accessing their verbalized reflexivity. We argue that these methods are powerful research tools to overcome some of the limits of the semi-structured interview, to encourage the reflexive engagement of participants and to grasp the complexity of the subjectivation processes of craftsmen.