the interpretation of cultures selected essays

We will be discussing his ideas on Anthropology, Culture and Semiotics We will be presenting on Clifford Geertz and his paper “Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture”.However, what do you think it means in The Middle East?ĭoing the “long horn ” sign in North America is a symbol for Normalness without reducing their particularity”.ĭoing a thumbs up in Canada is a sign for a good job, Understanding different cultures and “exposes their There is a degree of variability existing within the contextĪfter discovering how these signs and symbolsĬommunicate, this awareness opens the door to “ethnographic assertation as ‘essentially contestable’”. When studying a case using a semiotic concept of culture andĪn interpretive approach it is necessary to take on a view of characterize the whole system in a general way find the relationships between those elementsģ. Geertz argued that in order to interpret culture’s symbols,Ģ. He ultimately wanted to try and make thick description Geertz supported a semiotic approach that would aim toĬonnect and gain access into other forms of cultures Research through personal experience by trying to “form “finding our feet” is what ethnographers perform in their The debate on whether culture is subjective or objectiveĬulture includes “the writing of systematic rules, anĮthnographic algorithm” which would cause those who “psychological structures by means of which individuals orĬulture is public because the meaning behind the actionsĬulture is a context, where the behaviors that occur can

It can represent that the person isn't telling the truthĬognitive Anthropology sees that culture is made of Thick description is the behavior with the interpretationĬrossing your fingers can mean a symbol for good luck, or

Thin description is only about behavior and is withoutĪ wink is merely the contraction of an eye lid Interpreting involves trying to rescue what is “said” and fix it

Geertz states that there are 3 characteristics ofĮthnographic description, and he adds a 4th characteristic Once behavior is seen, the action becomes a symbol Geertz was influenced by Wittgenstien, Weber, Ryle andĪnthropologists participate in ethnography, and it canĬontain “establishing a rapport, selecting informants” andĮthnographer is faced with “multiplicity of complexĬonceptual structures” and they have to try and untangle Within cultures understanding other peoples Aim of most of his work is to provide an understandingĪnd acknowledgement of “thick description” that exists

The interpretation of cultures selected essays