Jessamy Perriam

Ethnography, Objects and Reflexivity: A Case Study of the Selfie Stick

Introduction

Ethnography, objects and reflexivity: a case study of the selfie stick. An ethnographic study of the selfie stick from a Science & Technology Studies perspective. Explores conflicting views, widespread use, and its socio-technical role in human-object relations.

Abstract

In her paper on Ethnography, Objects and Reflexivity: A Case Study of the Selfie Stick Jessamy Perriam focuses on how objects of a rather faddish nature such as the selfie-stick might be observed from a Science and Technology Studies perspective with the concept of disconcertment and an autoethnographic and ethnomethodological approach. The latter in terms of doing a breaching experiment. Perriam argues for the co-existence of discourses on the selfie-stick from strong rejection by journalists and the public to broad attention and wide use in everyday life. The former relate its use to narcissism and potential harm and the latter to its representations for social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. The selfie-stick and the specific images it produces may be understood as enabling a multi-layered socio-technical assemblage of (non-) human relations, existing in both material and digital field sites.

Review

Jessamy Perriam's paper, "Ethnography, Objects and Reflexivity: A Case Study of the Selfie Stick," offers a compelling and timely exploration of a ubiquitous contemporary object through a rigorous Science and Technology Studies (STS) lens. The author proposes an innovative methodological synthesis, combining autoethnographic and ethnomethodological approaches, specifically by employing a breaching experiment, to analyze the selfie stick. This framework is further enriched by an engagement with the STS concept of "disconcertment," promising a nuanced understanding of how such seemingly trivial artifacts can reveal profound socio-technical dynamics. The paper’s ambition to bridge critical STS concepts with creative ethnographic practice is particularly commendable and sets a strong foundation for its analysis. Perriam effectively identifies and unpacks the divergent and often conflicting discourses surrounding the selfie stick. She highlights the prevailing narrative of strong rejection, frequently linked to accusations of narcissism and potential harm by journalists and the public, which stands in stark contrast to its widespread adoption and celebratory representation across social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. This juxtaposition forms a critical part of the paper's argument, demonstrating how everyday objects can simultaneously embody conflicting cultural valuations. Furthermore, the abstract suggests that the selfie stick and the specific images it produces are conceptualized as a multi-layered socio-technical assemblage, intricately weaving together human and non-human relations across both material and digital domains, offering a sophisticated way to understand its pervasive influence. The paper's strength lies in its timely and methodologically inventive examination of a highly visible yet often under-theorized object. By applying STS principles, particularly the concept of disconcertment and the use of a breaching experiment, Perriam offers a fresh perspective on how seemingly simple consumer technologies mediate complex social interactions and cultural meanings. This analysis promises to contribute significantly to studies of material culture, digital ethnography, and the ongoing dialogue within STS regarding the entanglement of technology, selfhood, and society. The explicit focus on the selfie stick as a "socio-technical assemblage" operating across both material and digital "field sites" also positions the work as highly relevant to understanding contemporary practices of self-representation and the blurring boundaries between online and offline existence.

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