Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of American Folklore

Publisher

American Folklore Society

Publication Date

Fall 1-1-1998

First Page

381

Last Page

391

Abstract

This article considers the final disposal of field-recorded tapes that are believed by the informant's family to embody certain dangers to researchers, to the natural world, and to themselves. Motives for keeping or destroying the tapes are discussed in the light of modern concerns such as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Navajo worldview, scholarly interests, fieldwork ethics, and personal responsibilities of the fieldworker. I espouse the view that folklorists stand to learn more and do better work when scholarly decisions are guided by the culture we study, even when taking this course causes disruption in our academic assumptions.

Download

Share

COinS