James, Kyle J.2016-05-112016-05-112013-07http://hdl.handle.net/11603/2814This is not a normal ethnography in that its structure is as fluid as the group, Couchsurfing, studied. In trying to organize and communicate what was experienced through participant-observation, it is nearly impossible to separate and define all the social components that make up Couchsurfing. This, however, was a most propitious 1 mishap; in lieu of seeking particularities as a tool for separating groups, overarching social mechanisms were made apparent in the nuances that connected them (Wolford: 2010). This paper tries to communicate what a study of Couchsurfing has exposed: a relationship between the ideology of self, capitalism, and material origins (Marx: 1867).117 p.en-USCollection may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. To obtain information or permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Goucher Special Collections & Archives at 410-337-6347 or email archives@goucher.edu.Ethnology -- Fieldwork.Group identity -- Thriftiness -- Cross-cultural studies.Neoliberalism -- Social aspects.Cultural sustainability -- Capstone (Graduate)Text