The interpretation of cultures is an academic classic. Geertz models of and for interpretive anthropology. Maximal interpretation in clifford geertz and the strong program in cultural sociology. Geertz concept of culture and his thick description geertz views culture as a web of meaning people create while they are born into that web they are part of it. Ryle pointed out that if someone winks at us without a context, we dont. Oct 09, 2017 geertz models of and for interpretive anthropology.
Toward an interpretive theory of culture by clifford geertz narrated by dwight. Geertz views culture as a web of meaning people create while they are born into that web they are part of it. The book is structured around anthropological description, with geertz relying on field data he gathered mostly in the 1950s and 1960s. A summary of thick description the interpretation of. A summary of thick description the interpretation of cultures in the interpretation of cultures, clifford geertz outlines in broader sense the job of an ethnographer. Qualitative methods critique of clifford geertzs thick. For clifford geertz, culture was by the 1960s stuck in a conceptual morass in which the term was being stretched to explain an eclectic array of human phenomena. We use your linkedin profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. Geertz hints at this distinction instead of actually developing it. Geertz borrows the term thick description from the british language. The anthropologist clifford geertz s influential method for the interpretation of other cultures was what we termed thick description.
Clifford geertz 1926present began his academic career at antioch college in ohio as an english major and went on to study anthropology at harvard. Selected essays 1973 clifford geertz editors introduction it should not be surprising, after reading raymond williamss etymology of culture see p. The interpretation of cultures clifford geertz staff uny. Rethinking the economy with thick description and weak theory. Broadly, the ethnographers aim is to observe, record, and analyze a culture. Clifford geertz in the early 1970s, in a seminal essay titled thick. Towards an interpretive theory of culture clifford geertz. Geertz applied thick description to anthropological studies specifically his own interpretive anthropology, while producing theory that had implications for other social sciences. Clifford geertz geertzian theory technology trends. Evaluation of clifford geertzs interpretive account of.
In his first chapter in the interpretation of cultures, clifford geertz discusses the role of the ethnographer. Interpretive theory of culture from the interpretation of cultures. We will be presenting on clifford geertz and his paper thick description. Toward an interpretive theory of culture study questions 1. Today, thick description is used in a variety of fields. Toward an interpretive theory of culture, i discuss how thick description of diverse economic practices can be combined with weak theory to produce a performative rethinking of economy centered on the. In understanding the artifact, one must understand the flow of social discourse that produced it, the discourse it. Cultural anthropology of clifford geertz literary theory. Culture consists of the symbols that guide community behavior. While geertz applies thick description in the direction of anthropological study specifically his own interpretive anthropology, his theory that asserts the essentially semiotic nature of culture has implications for the social sciences in general and, in our case, political science and comparative political science in particular.
In her book, philosophy in a new key, susanne langer remarks that certain ideas. Thick description is a term geertz borrowed from gilbert ryle to describe and define the aim of interpretive anthropology. This essay will explore the program that geertz has proposed for a new, interpretive social science. With the interpretation of cultures, the distinguished anthropologist clifford geertz developed the concept of thick description, and in so doing, he virtually rewrote the rules of his field. You can read that article for free here, but its pretty hard to read so ive provided a summary of this seminal text below. Toward an interpretive theory of culture 1973a and blurred genres. While geertz applies thick description in the direction of anthropological study specifically his own interpretive anthropology, his theory that asserts the essentially semiotic nature of culture has implications for the social sciences in general and, in our case, political science and comparative. Navy in world war ii 194345, geertz studied at antioch college, ohio b. To geertz, analysis separated observation from interpretative methodologies. Geertz contends that it is the duty of the ethnographer to accurately decipher and objectively report cultural representations.
Anthropologist clifford geertz later developed the concept in his the interpretation of cultures 1973 to characterise his own method of doing ethnography since then, the term and the methodology it represents has gained currency in the social sciences and beyond. Through symbolic interaction people gain a worldview and learn how to behave. Thick description, i believe, is the methodology of a perfectionist and is what brought geertz to his interesting theory of hermeneutics anthropology and semiotic culture. Toward an interpretive theory of culture expounds upon the intricacies of ethnography. One of the twentieth centurys most influential books, this classic work of anthropology offers a groundbreaking exploration of what culture iswith the interpretation of cultures, the distinguished anthropologist clifford geertz developed the concept of thick description, and in so doing, he virtually rewrote the rules of his field. In this video, i take an introduction to geertz s thought.
Toward an interpretive theory of culture trying to define culture. How does geertz s example of the difference between a twitch and a wink demonstrate the interpretive relevance of thick description. Maximal interpretation in clifford geertz and the strong. As it is unseverable from the immediacies thick description presents, its freedom to shape itself in terms of its internal logic is rather limited. Selected essays 1973 geertz approached the issue of the term culture which had been used by anthropologists to mean different things thereby creating ambiguity, and proclaimed that the main feature of culture was significance and. To illustrate thick description, geertz uses ryles example which discusses the difference between a blink and a wink. Rather, it is a web of symbols that can help us better understand what that behavior means. Selected essays 1973 geertz approached the issue of the term culture which had been used by anthropologists to mean different things thereby creating ambiguity, and proclaimed. Toward an interpretive theory of culture i in her book, philosophy in a new key, susanne langer remarks that certain ideas burst upon the intellectual landscape with a tremendous force. Chapter 21 the impact of the concept of culture on the concept of man. The besetting sin of interpretive approaches to anythingliterature, dreams, symptoms, cultureis that they tend to resist, or to be permitted to resist, conceptual articulation and thus to escape systematic modes of assessment. Jun 15, 2017 cultural anthropology of clifford geertz by nasrullah mambrol on june 15, 2017 2 clifford geertz s 1926 2006 work defined the field of interpretive social science, and he is regarded as one of the most influential and widely cited american cultural anthropologists of the second half of the twentieth century.
The interpretation of cultures clifford geertz chairoflogicphiloscult. He argues that social anthropology is based on ethnography, or the study of culture. Toward and interpretive theory of culture, the interpretation of culture, ny. Toward an interpretive theory of culture from the interpretation of cultures. For example, geertz asserted that culture was essentially semiotic in nature, and this theory has implications for comparative political sciences. We will be discussing his ideas on anthropology, culture and semiotics slide 2 clifford geertz was born august 1926 and passed october 2006 at the age of 80. Actornetwork theory alliance theory cross cultural studies cultural materialism culture theory diffusionism feminism historical particularism boasian anthropology functionalism interpretive performance studies political economy practice theory structuralism poststructuralism systems theory. Mar 02, 2017 while geertz applies thick description in the direction of anthropological study specifically his own interpretive anthropology, his theory that asserts the essentially semiotic nature of culture has implications for the social sciences in general and, in our case, political science and comparative political science in particular. Clifford geertz academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. Mar 03, 2015 we will be presenting on clifford geertz and his paper thick description. Clifford geertz interpretive anthropology essay example. Clifford geertz and the symbolic anthropology approach this approach to religion and spirituality provides an analysis of the system of meanings embodied in the symbols and expressed in rituals which make up the religion or spiritual system for a focal social group, and the relating of these systems to socialstructural. Nov 02, 2018 the anthropologist clifford geertz s influential method for the interpretation of other cultures was what we termed thick description. Clifford geertz and the concept of culture prospects.
In understanding the artifact, one must understand the flow of social discourse that produced it, the discourse it freezes, and the way it is used in subsequent social action. While it was gilbert ryle who first used the term thick description, it was clifford geertz is the person who made thick description famous. Theoretical diffusion was, he argued, undermining the analytical power of culture and weakening the. While geertz applies thick description in the direction of anthropological study specifically his own interpretive anthropology, his theory that asserts the essentially semiotic nature of culture has implications for. Rethinking the economy with thick description and weak. Toward and interpretive theory of culture in the interpretation of cultures. Clifford geertz, american cultural anthropologist, a leading rhetorician and proponent of symbolic anthropology and interpretive anthropology. The ones marked may be different from the article in the profile. Toward an interpretive theory of culture anthropologist clifford geertz aims to provide social science with and understanding and appreciation of thick description. Cultural anthropology of clifford geertz by nasrullah mambrol on june 15, 2017 2 clifford geertz s 1926 2006 work defined the field of interpretive social science, and he is regarded as one of the most influential and widely cited american cultural anthropologists of the second half of the twentieth century. Start studying clifford geertz thick description interpretive theory of culture. In the social science fields of anthropology, sociology, history, religious studies. Geertz wrote about it in his article thick description. Geertz contributed to social and cultural theory and is still influential in turning anthropology toward a concern with the frames of meaning within which various peoples live their lives.
The late clifford geertz was lauded for his 1973 anthropological volume, and i do not find this to be hype. Oct 30, 2006 geertz applied thick description to anthropological studies specifically his own interpretive anthropology, while producing theory that had implications for other social sciences. Geertz concept of culture and his thick description. If the others think he is ac tually winking, his whole. Clifford geertz thick description interpretive theory of.
Contents preface part i 4 chapter 11 thick description. Clifford geertz and the symbolic anthropology approach this approach to religion and spirituality provides an analysis of the system of meanings embodied in the. In this essay, he explains that he adopted the term thick description from philosopher gilbert ryle. Reading with and against clifford geertz s 1973 essay thick description. Publication date 1973 topics ethnology publisher basic books collection. Thick description emphasized a more analytical approach, whereas previously observation alone was the primary approach. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Geertz aims to provide social science with and understanding and appreciation of thick description. Culture, geertz argues, does not drive human behavior. Geertz reflects that the role of the ethnographer is more like that of a literary. He reflected on the basic core notions of anthropology, such as culture and ethnography.
Geertz s program has emerged gradually over the last two decades and is most apparent in two articles. Anthropologist clifford geertz later developed the concept in his the. Merged citations this cited by count includes citations to the following articles in scholar. Religion as a cultural system 89 in working toward such an expansion of the conceptual envelope in which our studies take place, one can, of course, move in a great number of directions. Bibliography o geertz, c, the interpretation of cultures 1973 thick description. Thick description, however, is an interpretation of what the natives are thinking made by an outsider who cannot think like a native but is guided by anthropological theory geertz 1973d. Toward an interpretive theory of culture, synthesizes his approach. Symbolic and interpretive anthropologies anthropology. This cited by count includes citations to the following articles in scholar. The ethnographers role is to observe and analyse a culture by interpreting signs to understand deeper meanings within the context of that culture. Toward an interpretive theory of culture geertz outlines four parameters for an adequate thick description and a study of culture.
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