![Page 1: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
1
The Perks of Being Unconventional
My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley
![Page 2: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
2
A critical exploration of the Hindu relationship to inter-religious dialogue and conflict resolution in the context of contemporary
Sri Lanka
![Page 3: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
3
![Page 4: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
4
![Page 5: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
5
Insider vs. Outsider
• Is it better to be towards the heart, or on the periphery of one’s target population?
• Notoriously unsettled discourse
• Current trend attempting to reconcile both extremities
• Yet general suggestion is that to be solely an outsider is tantamount to a struggle, at least pragmatically speaking
![Page 6: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
6
Sri Lankan Hindus and Me
Target Population:• Hindu
• Ethnically Tamil
• Sri Lankan nationals
• Primarily Tamil-speaking, with English as lingua franca
Me:• Non-Hindu
• Irish-Welsh-English-German-French
• British national
• English speaker, extremely limited knowledge of Tamil
![Page 7: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
7
![Page 8: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
8
The Woes of the Outsider
• Axiomatic absence of trust
• Prospective language disparity
• Potential conflict of values and histories
![Page 9: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
9
Gaining Access and Building Trust
• ‘Gatekeeper’ figure
• Relied upon internet access
• Inter-religious movements and a national Hindu organization
![Page 10: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
10
Mike’s Field Research Emergency Survival Guide
• Remember the wisdom of Robbie Burns – the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry!
• Remember the wisdom of Charles Darwin – ADAPT OR DIE!
• Consider going rogue...
![Page 11: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
11
The Schwarzenegger Approach
![Page 12: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
12
The Schwarzenegger Approach
• Visit community hubs of target population
• In this case, primarily temples, though also commercial and residential neighbourhoods
• Turn up and basically see what happens!
![Page 13: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
13
Vegetarianism Saved My Life!
• Access to certain temples prohibited if meat had been consumed within the past 24 hours
• Such is linked to Hindu purity laws, as meat is traditionally regarded as a polluting substance
• Confronted with target population’s (mis)characterization of the researcher
![Page 14: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
14
Blessed by Body Modification (1)
• Tattoos are highly uncommon in Sri Lanka
• As such they attract a significant portion of attention
• When arriving at Hindu community hubs, many individuals would approach to ask about them
![Page 15: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
15
Blessed by Body Modification (2)
![Page 16: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
16
Impugning Preconceptions
• Sri Lankan appeared in a multitude of ways a ‘conservative’ society
• Home context – tattoos and conservatism are typically contradistinct polarities
• Assumption therefore was that my appearance would alienate me further
![Page 17: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
17
Actual Experience
• Tattoos and body piercing exhibited an unanticipated field research utility
• Bypassed the ‘necessity’ of a Gatekeeper figure
• Somewhat of a linguistic filter
![Page 18: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
18
Thaipusam and the vel kavadi
• Tamil Hindu festival in praise of the deity Murugan
• Corporeal mortification though to induce Murugan’s blessing
• Involves devotees piercing their flesh with numerous ‘vels’, or ‘spears’
![Page 19: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
19
![Page 20: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
20
![Page 21: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
21
Conclusion
• The recommended approach to accessing target research populations cannot always be counted upon
• In such cases it is possible to risk improvisation, although this is fraught with dangers
• Sometimes looking weird can be to your benefit, but serendipity remains a capricious mistress
![Page 22: The Perks of Being Unconventional My Research Rāmāyana by Michael John Tilley 1](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062417/551ac7565503466b6a8b4ff2/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
22
Thank you for your attention