Multimodal Ethnography (I): Expanding Ethnography: Multimodal Methods for Research and Representation

Beginning of June 2026

Michelle von Dach, UZH

Kiah Rutz, UZH

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Overview of Workshops I & II on Multimodal Ethnography:

In 2026, we feature a two-part workshop on multimodal ethnography, co-organised by the University of Zurich and the University of Neuchâtel. Multimodality refers to the use of diverse media forms like text, images, sound, video, and social media in anthropological fieldwork and writings. In recent years, the use of creative practices in ethnographic research-through documentary film, sound documentary, or graphic arts (drawing, painting, comics)-has grown significantly, serving both as research tools for generating data and as methods for disseminating scientific knowledge.

While building on a longer history of plural forms of anthropological writing, the renewed interest in creative approaches raises key questions for PhD students who engage with them. How do anthropologists mix anthropological writings with creative media from a multimodal perspective? What is the impact of researchers' multimodal productions on how they connect, collaborate, and translate their field research? What power relationships and ethical dilemmas arise around these types of media? 

The workshops I & II on Multimodal Ethnography will tackle these issues through theoretical presentations and practical activities. 

Workshop I (this workshop in Zürich)

In the one-day workshop I, students will learn about multimodality in anthropological research and academic output. Students will engage with anthropological theory on multimodal ethnography and the ethics of multimodal fieldwork, and will begin a practical exercise to be continued in workshop II. The workshop welcomes both those who have experience in multimodal practice and those who have not yet engaged (but would like to) with multimodality. 

Workshop II (in September)

In the 3-day workshop II, students will be offered a continuation of workshop I, both in relation to theoretical insights and practical engagement. The workshop focuses on hands-on activities, specifically designed for participants already immersed in multimodal ethnographic practices. Participants will work in three groups, each limited to a maximum of five people: one group focusing on podcasting and sound documentaries, another on video documentaries and film, and a third group on illustrations and drawings. Each group will be supervised by an expert in their respective field. The overarching goal is to emphasize multimodal writing as a central aspect of the workshop's learning outcomes.

Between Workshop I and Workshop II, there will be a break of approximately three months during which students will work on their project, which they will have begun in Workshop I. Workshop I is open to everyone. Attendance of Workshop II is highly recommended; however, it is possible to attend only Workshop I. Students are required to participate in workshop I to participate in workshop II, but under some circumstances and for specific reasons, it can be possible to join workshop II only. 

Detailed information on this Workshop I: Expanding Ethnography – Multimodal Methods for Research and Representation 

This one-day workshop will provide theoretical and practical basics as well as conceptual considerations for students to work multimodally. Through a combination of theoretical discussions and practical exercises, participants will explore how multimodal methods enhance research design, fieldwork, and the dissemination of findings. 

The Workshop I will be structured into three parts. The first part will entail a plenary introduction to multimodal ethnography with the invited expert. Then, in order to gain an overview of multimodal possibilities in anthropology, the invited expert, the organizers (Michelle von Dach and Kiah Rutz), and some more experienced students will present their multimodal work. In the last part of the workshop, the group will be split into two. Students with multimodal experience will raise issues and ethical questions of multimodal work in anthropology through discussing how they have used/integrated multimodality in their fieldwork and dissertation. Students without multimodal experience will devise a way to integrate multimodality in their dissertations and will sketch an idea/proposal to pursue until workshop II. 

This workshop is particularly important as it provides PhD students with the necessary skills to critically and creatively explore alternative forms of knowledge production, beyond the traditional text-based approach. The workshop will also highlight critical reflection on multimodal methods, emphasising that multimodality comes with its own problems and challenges. Overall, together with workshop II, it will foster methodological innovation, expand the reach of anthropological insights, and challenge conventional academic boundaries by emphasizing ethically responsible and contextually relevant representations of ethnographic data.

Ethnographic Museum of the University of Zurich

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