Sodom and Gommorah: Don't Look Back

This work in progress is based on the idea that (1) both video ethnography and survey methods involve creative choices and that (2) network processes constrain these choices in a multitude of ways, particularly in low income, high density neighborhoods. This month, Wes Shrum and Mark Schafer collected both survey and video data in a Ghanaian location that has been called “the most toxic place on the planet” (officially known as Agbogbloshie or Old Fadama). Research strategies evolved as participants suggested means of dealing with project challenges. New stories emerged about the attractively negative reputation of the community and the consistently disappointing role of both media and academics.