An Ethnography of Bronies

[BalanceBrony 259]

Hiya everypony! So, I'm a college student, going for a BA in Anthropology. Part of the requirements for my major include taking introductory courses in the four primary fields of Anthropology. This semester I am in Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology. How is this relevant to ponies you may ask?

 

Well, I was just assigned a paper. The subject of the paper is to write an ethnography (a cultural study) about how to effectively participate in a speech community. I am actually lucky to have a unique opportunity to study the Fandom from the perspective of someone transitioning into the community, having been a Brony for only three weeks. I can maintain the perspective of an outsider, while also becoming very much involved.

 

The focus of this study will be examining what knowledge somepony will need in order to effectively participate in the brony community. Specifically, how one is to be effective in more involved fan discussions.

 

So what I am asking is if it is okay for me to study the community here from an anthropological perspective, and research the linguistic trends which exist in the Fandom's community, as well as various rites of passage to transition into full Bronyhood? I know it seems silly to ask, when I could just examine things anyway, but it is considered unethical to conduct anthropological study without letting the subjects know they are being analysed.

 

 

[NavelColt 22,879]

Seeing as you already made a proper introduction topic for yourself, I've moved this over to Sugarcube Corner :3

 

You're actually far from the first person to come and join with the goal of studying for school purposes, which in of itself is pretty cool, to me. I think studying the community is great. Getting positive output from the fandom, no matter what medium, should always be encouraged. I wish you luck, and hope you come to enjoy yourself here with us at MLPF!

[Hiram32 20]

Hi BalanceBrony!

 

Nice to see another anthropologist on these forums! I have had some anthropological interest in the fandom, but since my MS is more focused on applied anthropology I never found time to do such a study. If you don't mind, you should PM me and share more of this with me.

[Venomshank 121]

FFFFFFUCKIN' GENIUS

you have my permission.

 

I only wish I had thought of this first.

 

Good luck on the actual project itself! I hope you get an A or... Is that not how it works in college...?

Nevermind. It doesn't matter, either way you'll ascend to brony immortality.

[Batbrony 16,053]

So basically you're doing this:

 

I must study the entity known as Bronius Ponius

 

Well, you got my endorsement.  Thanks very much for the heads up!!!  A fair warning though; anvils and other random, hazardous objects tend to spontaneously fall on researchers in this fandom.    Just be sure to keep your head up!!! 

Edited October 8, 2013 by Batbrony

[Descant 1,897]

Seems fine to me. Honestly, all that stuff you seem to be studying about us is kind of fascinating. You should totally let us see the results too when you're done.

 

And C.Discord's right. We get a lot more threads about studies of the brony fandom than you would have expected. We don't mind at all.