By adopting some of the methods used by ethnographic researchers, performance artists/researchers can "step out of" their own culture, providing the necessary distance for the reporting of the event under investigation. Dwight Conquergood uses ethnographic research to be able to "step into" the culture under investigation and gather data about the culture. This methodology is also useful to a specific type of solo performance artist when attempting to step out of and gather data about his/her own culture. Spalding Gray's autoperformances contain a subtext which turns his seemingly entertaining life stories into social commentary on his own culture. Just as ethnographers are using performance as an outlet for their research, some performers are adopting ethnographic techniques used in the preparation of their own performances. Ethnography is used to learn about other cultures; however, when used properly, it can reveal much about the researcher's own culture through the performance of self. (Contains 25 references.) (RS)