Abstract
Bringing cultural theorist George Gerbner into conversation with prominent autoethnographers, I present a conceptual definition of autoethnographic brevity. I hope this article offers methodological clarity to and for the production of impressionistic autoethnography.
I am still interested in autoethnographic brevity (Gloviczki, 2018). I further articulate that interest into the following conceptual definition: how content, context, media, and environment are bound and bind together. Following cultural theorist George Gerbner, “messages are content” (Morgan, 2012, p. 17). Context to me is an ethical conundrum, raising the question, “What, then, are my obligations to readers?” (Ellis, 2001, p. 614). Media is how a work is read, or with what going on in the background—consider Barbara Jago’s (2004) observation: “As the radio begins to fuzz, I abandon a raspier than usual Springsteen to find another station” (p. 4). I read environment in the same way I interpret Carol Rambo (2007) voicing theory and identity: “This is open-ended and dissolves into infinity” (p. 534). I know enough to worry my interpretation is likely wrong. All the same, I humbly and hopefully offer this definition.
Footnotes
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
