Ethnography as a Way of Sudying Culture - Research Paper Example

Data Workshop Assignment Analyzing Everyday Life: Religious Services The purpose of this paper is to use ethnography, which canbe defined as writing culture, and collecting data through observations, while not only making observation but also being able to come to understand the culture and what these specific culture activities mean to those involved in them. It will also involve the ability to understand the reasoning behind each detail of the particular cultural experience, whereas previously we may have thought certain aspects to be random with no cultural significance at all, ethnographers in a sense study what factors combine to create a culture or a response to a certain product, religion, style or activity. Ethnographers often seek to study a certain group in order to determine what makes them different and how they can make products or advertisements more appealing to the audience. They are often seeking target groups for very specific products or activities in order to capitalize on markets that may not already be saturated. One area that ethnographers frequently focus on is a religious group which may not be seen as mainstream by the general public; often these religious groups are quite disciplined and specific on their behaviors, values and morals. Many ethnographers will totally immerse themselves in the group they are studying in order to have firsthand knowledge of the cultural implications and difficulties faced by that group, such as single parenthood. The benefits of this are numerous, a relationship is developed with similar individuals and a rapport is gained which allows the ethnographers to obtain data which isn’t coerced and occurs naturally. Benefits of observation versus interviewing include allowing the observer to compile a true and accurate picture, unbiased by opinion, which most individuals that interviewed are likely to have. This opinion can also shape and guide their interview responses in a way that they feel shows their particular group in the way in which they prefer to be viewed. Actual observation allows the ethnographer to obtain true and unbiased information which leads to more accurate and realistic reporting. Participants who are primarily observing will usually keep very detailed field notes and these notes are usually used later on in order to analyze all the data they are able to collect during their observation and to arrange and make sense of the data. Often the notes may seem a confusing set of quick thoughts or observations but when written well will later be able to provide a complete picture of what the ethnographic observer was able to observe and learn from the observation. Even the smallest details such as facial expression, eye contact and tone of voice will provide clues as to the hierarchy within the group. The observer must also consider that there very presence may have an effect on the natural and normal flow of events in order to impress the observer or attempt to manipulate the observer into feeling a certain way about the experience. For this assignment I chose to conduct an ethnographic study on a religious service, unlike one I had ever experienced before, at a local Mosque. The service is actually called a masjid and I dressed in my usual American attire. I noticed that the men wore clothing which covered both the upper and lower body to the ankles while women were dressed in clothing which was of a material that was not sheer, or see-through, and also scarves that covered their hair and neckline. Being exposed to this culture, so different form my own, easily allowed me to make distinctions between the two. Ceremony and ritual is much more prevalent in this type of service and everyone seemed to understand and know their place within this culture. This service is called "Salaah", though it is translated in Islam to mean daily prayers. Salaah is offered five times daily; dawn, noon, afternoon, dusk, and night and all take place in the Mosque, known as Masjid in Arabic. Leaders during these prayer services are known as Imam. It is appropriate for worshippers to stand behind the Imam during ritual prayer and to bow in a prostate position and stand in a specific way while uttering certain ritualistic words that are part of the ceremony. Other members who attended the service were calm and respectful in attitude displaying reverence while also being warm and friendly to other worshipers. I learned through the interaction with other worshipers that obtaining a role of leadership is based on numerous factors; including knowledge of the text, volume of memorized scriptures, good moral character, and knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence. I saw no evidence of boredom, which would likely be viewed as a major offense to the Islamic Imam, though this is common in many other religious services. Most members seemed to be focused and sincere in their worshipping and respectful of the sanctity of the service. The building featured very large floors with little seating, primarily carpet with many shelves for books and the Mosque’s pulpit is actually known as a Mimbar. I suspect this has to do with the fact that much of the worship service is spent in a standing position or in a contrite bowed position, showing deference to the Imam. There were no statues that I noticed and one worshiper advised me that Islam’s do enjoy taking pictures of family members though it is absolutely forbidden for them to be hung on the wall. There is no singing during the worship services and there is no choir as in many churches and the use of musical instruments is not part of any of the prayer services. Speaking to members of the prayer service I learned that the man’s role is primarily one of being the provider while the woman is expected to care for the upbringing of the children in the Muslim way. Though most people view the Muslim religion in a negative way there are approximately 20,000 Westerners becoming Muslims annually. Excommunication is uncommon in the Muslim religion though unruly behavior will cause one to be cautioned. The Muslim religion follows closely the teaching of the Qur’an, which they believe to be the word of God, verbatim, without the influence or altercations by man found in many other religious scriptures. They also place great faith on the books of Hadith, the teaching of the prophet Mohammed. I found this experience to be extremely interesting, allowing me the opportunity to be exposed to a religious service that I would have otherwise had no occasion to learn about. Many of the Islamic teachings I found very agreeable though is clear that the majority of people greatly misunderstood this religion. The research method I used in this study was primarily observation, though in some instances I was able to interview other members for more information. Filed notes/Rough Draft Write a short ethnography about a religious service of your choice Dress code or other requirements Appropriate behavior When do participants stand, sit, kneel, speak, read, pray, meditate, sing? Any leaders, helpers? Any members in a church leadership? Furnishings Vessels, books Architecture Statues Decorations Paintings Musical instruments Different roles, men and women, children Daily prayers called in Arabic "Salaah", Islam What is the proper dress code at this type of service? For men, clean clothing that covers the upper and the lower body up to their ankles What is the proper dress code at this type of service? For women, Ample, non-see-thru dress that covers their entire body including a scarf that covers their hair and neck What days and at what time are these services usually offered and what type of facility are these services held in? Everyday, 5 times a day. Dawn, noon, afternoon, dusk, night, the facility is called mosque or “Masjid” in Arabic. What is the appropriate behavior of people attending these services? Calm respectful, full of reverence, warm and friendly to other worshipers When do participants stand, sit, kneel, speak, read, pray, meditate and sing? During the ritual prayer, worshipers are standing upon ranks behind the leader called Imam. They bow prostate and stand in a specific manner while uttering specific words What is the title of the church leaders and helpers? The leader is called Imam How do church members acquire a leadership role in the church? It’s not called a church; leadership is based upon many factors including knowledge of the text, volume of memorized scriptures, good moral character, knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence etc. What are the usual furnishings? No seats, just a carpet, shelves for books, a form of a pulpit called Mimbar What is the architectural style of the service locations? Just a regular building, large floors, but it varies from a locality and ethnicity to a country What are the usual decorations? What types of statues are incorporated into the architecture and what is their significance? No statues And what musical instruments are commonly used in your service? Musical instruments arent a part of a prayer Describe the different roles that men, women and children play in your religion Man responsible for bread winning, women essentially responsible for child upbringing, thats really a rough description, thats not an easy question How do you think most people view your religion? At this time maybe not so positively, but twenty thousand people in the West become Muslims yearly On what grounds can a member be excommunicated or not accepted by the service? Unruly behavior may cause one to be cautioned Do services involve the use of holy water , as other religions sometimes do, or confess? Neither So there is never any singing during service, is it? No, never Are pictures allowed within the family unit? Yes, as long as theyre not hung on walls What types of books are used in your religion? The Koran?? Hymnal? Yes, the Quran is for us, Muslims, the verbatim Word of God, not one word from man has ever been added to it. We have also the books of Hadith which are the teachings of the prophet Muhammad Islam since its inception has always been more popular with the regular and poor people, up till today it is a similar trend. Read More