In the past, ethnographers often presented themselves in the classic hero frame, where they appeared authoritative and calm. Recent ethnographers, though, reveal hardship and vulnerability yet prevail as “new age heroes” who overcame danger and doubt. Missing are the important methodological insights of ethnographers who experience multiple setbacks and obstacles, ones that lead to a broken ethnography, or one that never materializes or starts. Here, the ethnographer suffers, becoming dispirited and wanting to surrender or give up. This paper breaks that methodological silence, showing how difficult gang research in Los Angeles County placed me in a broken ethnography, one where I became disillusioned and questioned my abilities and resolve. In the end, the experience revealed important methodological lessons, ones that provide guidance for future ethnographers.

中文翻译：

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破碎的民族志：来自几乎英雄的教训

过去，民族志学家经常以经典的英雄框架来呈现自己，在那里他们显得权威而冷静。然而，最近的民族志学者揭示了艰辛和脆弱，但仍以克服危险和怀疑的“新时代英雄”而盛行。缺少的是民族志学家的重要方法论见解，他们经历了多次挫折和障碍，导致民族志破裂，或者从来没有实现或开始。在这里，民族志学家受苦，变得沮丧，想要投降或放弃。这篇论文打破了方法论上的沉默，展示了洛杉矶县的帮派研究是多么困难，使我陷入了一个破碎的民族志，在那里我变得幻想破灭并质疑我的能力和决心。最后，经验揭示了重要的方法论教训，