Ethnography and the interpretation of cultures - Essay Example

ETHNOGRAPHY Ethnography and the Interpretation of Cultures Introduction Both provided texts explicitly and implicitly raise the issue of the possibility of emotional involvement in studying cultures firsthand interfering with the ability of the ethnographer to objectively research the cause and effect relationships that make the culture function as a society. Like the case in physical science anthropologists and sociologists must test the validity of their theories and hypotheses. Usually physical scientists can do this by manipulating variables in a laboratory.

However, for a social scientist the laboratory is the culture being studied However, for a social scientist the laboratory is the culture being studied and it is impossible to manipulate parts of it without destroying the culture itself. Furthermore to gain insight into the whys of cultural practices researchers must often ingratiate themselves with the people studied. However the argument is that too much emotional attachment can affect the researcher’s objectivity and thereby call into question his research conclusions.

“From Participant Observation to the Observation of Participation….” This article traces the history of changes in anthropological approaches to ethnographic studies over the years. At first blush this is a confusing phraseology, but as I understand it from the author’s explanation, the difference is that in participant observation the researcher participates in the culture’s practices but observes for study only the culture’s symbols, status relationships, norms, values, etc.

to determine their significance in relation to how the culture functions (Tedlock, B. 1991) On the other hand under “observation of participation” the researcher is also more aware of the effect his participation may have on the culture and therefore tries to broaden his observations to himself as well as the culture being studied. In other words in an effort to achieve a greater degree of scientific validity he attempts to be more aware of for example any notions of cultural superiority which might color his perceptions and make him appreciate less how the practices he observes play roles in enabling the culture studied to function effectively in the context in which it operates.

The author makes the point that that the recent broadening of the pool of recruits doing ethnographies to include both genders, different races and socioeconomic levels, etc. are more likely to study cultures objectively in context in th “observation of participation” methodology than their largely male, white, upper class forerunners many of whom had the “baggage” of considering themselves as members of a superior civilization studying primitive natives. (Tedlock B. 1991) Theses recent developments have reduced the stigma against ethnographers “going native” and the distrust of their findings.

Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight In my opinion this is an example of a specific ethnographic study which shows the need for the researcher to ingratiate himself to some extent with the culture under study in order to get meaningful results. The author reported that when he arrived in Bali while he was not met with hostility, he was not warmly welcomed either, more like he didn’t exist.(Geertz, C. 1973) Then a turning point came when he attended a local cockfight, illegal but important to the Balinese culture When the police raided it everyone quickly scattered.

Instinctively Geertz did also. Later the Balinese were incredulous that he had done this instead of proving to the police that he was not part of the cockfight crowd but an ethnographer. However in retrospect he recognized it as a turning point since from the on the Balinese were much more open and friendly. Because he had done what they always do in such circumstances he gained instant social approval even though his hasty retreat was an instinctive reaction rather than a purposeful move to gain acceptance.

This recognition of the effect of his actions is an example of the “observation of his participation” in Balinese ways even though not intended as such. The researcher went on to acquire the valuable information necessary to complete a through analysis of the importance of cockfighting and associated gambling to the Balinese culture and social structure. Conclusion While there is a tension between the careful ethnographic study of culture and the possibility of the validity of the study being adversely affected by relations between the researcher and the subjects, this can be avoided by careful observation and assessment of the effect of his own participation with the subjects as well as their participation with each other.

References1) Geertz, Clifford “Chapter 16/ Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight” The Interpretation of Culture” 1973 Publisher Basic Books Inc.2) Tedlock, Barbara “From Participant Observation to the Observation of Participation. The Emergence of Narrative Ethnography” Journal of Anthropological Research Vol. 47 No. 1 (Spring 1991) pp. 69-94. . .