Ethnographic Fieldwork
We began our ethnographic research at brandfests
(McAlexander and Schouten 1998) and then broadened the
field context to include sites that were not event related.
Eventually, through product adoption we became fully situated
in the experience of Jeep ownership and gained personal
points of reference on which to reflect our data and
analyses. The brandfests, including Jeep Jamborees, Camp
Jeep, and Jeep 101, hosted significant numbers of brand
owners and potential owners engaging in brand consumption
and the celebration thereof. Briefly, Jamborees are
regional rallies with a focus on off-road trail driving; Camp
Jeep is a national rally that, in addition to off-road driving
opportunities, offers lifestyle and product-related activities;
and Jeep 101 is a touring off-road driving course coupled
with product-related activities and displays. Although the
participant mix varied somewhat by event, all the brandfests
attracted a wide range of owners (and friends), from veteran
off-roaders to neophytes and from first-time owners to those
with family heritages of Jeep ownership. These events are
described more completely in McAlexander and Schouten’s
(1998) work