The Fieldwork Process

“It is a familiar folkloric practice to judge the merit of a traditional artist not by one's own standards, but by those of their community and peers.”

In line with this belief, Thomas not only interviewed artists but also other key members of their local community. 

Thomas believes that “ethnographic fieldwork is... similar to an archeological dig. In archaeology what begins with a pile of rock will, with a little luck and a lot of patience and persistence reveal bones and names and facts and an understanding of the past. Ethnographic fieldwork takes that same pile of rock, but rather than digging in the dirt, you knock on doors, make phone calls, and show up at events. With the same patience and persistence, not to mention luck, you dig into the lives, stories, passions, and talents of the residents of your site. You end up with a greater understanding of the present.”