Ethnography, "serendipitous" discoveries, theoretical and real friendships

Abstract

Starting from my ethnographic experience in the Middle East, I propose a methodological reflection on the concept of serendipitous discovery, elaborated by Ugo Fabietti and characterized by the combination of chance/sagacity.  The dimension of serendipity, or abduction, has marked some focal points of my research on cultural heritage in Syria, from the choice of research contexts and topics to developments in ethnographic inquiry. I propose an expansion of the definition of serendipitous discovery to capture the potential, inherent in such a discovery, to consolidate a certain point of view through reference to the ethnographer's "theoretical friends."  This reflection is embedded in a discussion of relationships that, as an anthropologist, I have woven with some of my interlocutors, from which emerges the need for a methodological preparation for the abductive procedure, that is, a predisposition to live the field experience without worrying about wasting time doing seemingly useless things, such as refining the nuances of language, deepening nonverbal skills and attending to relationships with people.  This allows for aspects of ethnographic e-xperience that, emerging as secondary elements, become central junctures in the research.