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Hiii!
Welcome to The Sketchy Anthropologist, a sketchy newsletter about all things anthropology, all things sketchnotes, and the nerdy corner that connects them both!
I am Emiko Stock,The Sketchy Anthropologist. I am a creative ethnographer, storyteller, mediamaker and educator based between Phnom Penh and Cairo.
Now let’s talk about that newsletter, shall we?
What is The Sketchy Anthropologist?
The Sketchy Anthropologist is a newsletter for:
those who love people but can't be with them all the time, and
those who can’t draw to save their lives—but still want to give it a try! [Obviously, none of that would ever apply to me]
If, like me, you’re really, really, really aspiring to be just the best sketchnoter and anthropologist in the whole universe, join me as I brag and bungle my way through that—one doodle, one human idea at a time!
Let’s very sketchily figure out how to take over the world… Or maybe just be more attuned beings and better observers of life.
But why O why?
The Sketchy Anthropologist aims to bring together aspiring sketchnoters and anthropologists so we can learn from each other.
Why? Because both share two essential qualities that can make the world just a little better:
bounciness: the ability to get creative on the spot and,
curiosity: an endless openness to wonder about everything and everyone.
Learning bits and bites of sketchnoting and anthropology can help us draw the world in a way that’s Simple, Sensible, and Sensitive, making it all just make Sense (ssssssssssss...) [🐍].
Simple: clear doodles and bright ideas, no mastery or jargon required
Sensible: practical, wise, legible sketchnotes for our own good selves but also the passing-by outsider
Sensitive: hospitable, tuned-in visuals that stay open to empathy and emotional engagement
Making Sense: equipping ourselves with a sensorial, logical, and reciprocal awareness of the world
So… is this a private club for accredited anthropologists and professional sketchnoters? Should I just leave now?
No way!
Please do stay!
On the contrary, I believe sketchnotes can be of use to anyone aspiring to see the world more attentively. Anyone can join, including but not limited to:
educators inside or outside academia interested in incorporating visual thinking into their teaching or research
ethnographers in and out of industry wanting to bring clarity and creativity to their communications
reporters seeking ethical ways to document observations in contexts where photography may be a threat
travelers looking to slow down and journal (and likely make a number of giggling friends over the shoulder and along the way!)
… and everyone else in our unlimited capacity as everyday observers, united by our curiosity and creativity!
And by the way, I’m also learning and starting from scratch!
Here’s the thing: I got into sketchnotes just a couple of years ago. For much of that time, “getting into it” meant “wishing really hard to get into it.”
I hadn’t drawn since school, yet I was teaching college students how to use sketchnotes to engage with course materials. My pen-to-paper impostor syndrome was so overwhelming that I focused all my energy on teaching sketchnoting without much left to work on my own.
So, while I’m a professional anthropologist, I’m also just a child taking my first steps with sketchnotes, stumbling along the way. Come with me so we can pick each other up!
Ok, I’m leaning toward a *maybe* then… But still, what can I expect?
In a nutshell, the newsletter will alternate between breaking down anthropological principles and sketching tools.
We’ll learn to draw from both observation and imagination, firmly believing that the two are never completely dissociated—whether it’s from daily life at home, at work, during travels around the world, or right down the block!
What kind of trap am I walking into? Is the next click going to prompt me to create an account or download yet another app?
Nope!
If you’re new to Substack, think of it as a blend of the best of early blogging nerdiness and early social media coziness. You don’t need to create an account to receive newsletters; simply subscribe, and The Sketchy Anthropologist will come directly to your email.
And then, and only if you really get into it (I certainly have!): you can download [the app] on your phone or favorite e-reader for an enhanced reading experience, or browse the newsletter directly on https://substack.com from your desktop.
I like free stuff. And I can’t afford socks. Please tell me this is all for free.
Absolutely, and please go get yourself some socks, winter is coming!
However, while like you I hate paywalls interrupting a good read, I also hate being late for rent, paying groceries with copper, and eternal free labor. I also believe artists and writers should be compensated for their work as I am sure you do. Finding balance between open access and compensation is a process, so while The Sketchy Anthropologist is in its infancy, here is the model I follow:
everything published in the newsletter is open to all, regardless of whether you're a free or paid subscriber.
if you want to move to “paid subscriber” (now or anytime), it’s 6 USD / month or 50 USD / year.
if you can afford a paid subscription (no judgment here, only you know your socks-situation!), it will help support the newsletter and keep it growing. Plus, you’ll receive all my ever-so-deep affection and my mind-boggled realization that people find value in what I think, say, and write! Priceless, right?
As the newsletter evolves, I might add some perks for paid subscribers, and will likely pick your brains on that!
So, how about clicking that button below to choose the option that suits you best? I can't wait to have you on this journey with me!
I am a skeptical, indecisive and undecided being. I need more before clicking, where do I start?
You and I both!
So before you click on subscribing forever-and-after (actually, you can unsubscribe any time, change of mind and all that, no hard feelings), here are a few posts to get you situated:
in case you want to know the actual human behind all this, and see a few sketchnotes inspired by my favorite illustrators)
Why (aspiring) anthropologists should get cozy with sketchnotes?
Why (aspiring) sketchnoters should get cozy with anthropology?
My very first post! (TBD)
Still more questions? (nah... Really?!)
Bring them on!
To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.
