Y. Michal Bodemann

Y. Michal Bodemann (March 9, 1944 – January 4, 2025) was a German-born Canadian sociologist and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, best known for his work on German Jewry, the concept of ideological labour and "memory theatre" (1991) and his contributions to sociological praxis and interventive field work, in particular, his interventive observation method in qualitative field work. In his approach to interventive observation, Bodemann advocated for the reciprocal nature of the relationship between researcher and the people in a setting, ''as active participation'', against the notion of the passive or neutral role of the observer. Bodemann's theoretical foundation continues to be influential against positivist notions of objectivity, which still persist in the field of sociology and in the approach to qualitative methods. His methodological approach is close to that of Michael Burawoy and notions of public sociology. Bodemann is best known for his contributions to Jewish studies, and Holocaust memory, and his concept of "ideological labour": where especially ethnic minorities are cast as representing values contrasting those of the larger society. He authored and edited numerous books, newspaper and academic articles, spanning the entirety of his academic career, in English, German and Italian. Provided by Wikipedia