In his first chapter in the interpretation of cultures, clifford geertz discusses the role of the ethnographer. Clifford geertz 1926present is best known for his ethnographic studies of javanese culture java is an indonesian island south of borneo and for his writings about the interpretation of culture. The most influential aspect of geertzs work has been his emphasis on the importance of the symbolic of systems of meaning as it relates to culture, cultural change, and the study of culture. The interpretation of cultures basic books classics.
The anthropologist clifford geertzs influential method for the interpretation of other cultures was what we termed thick description. The interpretation of cultures by clifford geertz, paperback. Clifford geertz, american cultural anthropologist, a leading rhetorician and proponent of symbolic anthropology and interpretive anthropology. Their combined citations are counted only for the first article. The interpretation of cultures by clifford geertz basic books. The ethnographers role is to observe and analyse a culture by interpreting signs to understand deeper meanings within the context of that culture. Rather, it is a web of symbols that can help us better understand what that behavior means. The interpretation of cultures by clifford geertz goodreads. Toward and interpretive theory of culture, the interpretation of culture, ny. The paper examines the scope and influence of clifford geertz, one of the most influential social scientists in the 20th century. Discuss the interpretive approach of clifford geertz in anthropology. Evanspritchard serves as an important bridge to the interpretive approach and for what. In the interpretation of cultures, clifford geertz outlines in broader sense the job of an ethnographer. The interpretation of cultures paperback may 19 1977.
Toward an interpretive vii theory of culture 3 part ii chapter 21 the impact of the concept of culture on the concept of man 33 chapter 31 the growth of culture and the evolution of mind 55 part iii chapter 41 religion as a cultural system 87 chapter 51 ethos, world view, and the analysis of. Sep 04, 2012 in the interpretation of cultures, clifford geertz outlines in broader sense the job of an ethnographer. Geertz first defines culture itself as a fully semiotic term, meaning that cultures meaning is unique and everchanging for every person who conceives of it. This groundbreaking book, winner of the 1974 sorokin award of the american sociological association. The interpretation of cultures kindle edition by geertz. What does it add to its immediate predecessor in the study of religion. Rather, it is a web of symbols that can help us better understand.
The most influential aspect of geertz s work has been his emphasis on the importance of the symbolic of systems of meaning as it relates to. Buy the interpretation of cultures book online at low prices. The book is structured around anthropological description, with geertz relying on field data he gathered mostly in the 1950s and 1960s. May 06, 2012 following ryle, geertz holds that anthropologys task is that of explaining cultures through thick description which specifies many details, conceptual structures and meanings, and which is opposed to thin description which is a factual account without any interpretation. Broadly, the ethnographers aim is to observe, record, and analyze a culture.
Navy in world war ii 194345, geertz studied at antioch college, ohio b. Selected essays clifford geertz basic books, 1973 chapter i thick description. Selected essays 1973 clifford geertz editors introduction it should not be surprising, after reading raymond williamss etymology of culture see p. From field research in indonesia and morocco to highly theoretical pieces, geertz contributed a massive amount of work to the study of anthropology, including a new. The interpretation of cultures selected essays by clifford geertz basic books, inc. Buy the interpretation of cultures book online at best prices in india on. In the interpretation of cultures 1973, geertz described culture as a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by means of which men communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life 1973. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. For just over the next two decades, geertz wrote many essays and theoretical works. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Buy the interpretation of cultures 3rd revised edition by geertz, clifford, darnton, robert isbn. This book published in 1973, and we are still in the start of 20.
The interpretation of cultures by clifford geertz bartleby. David bourget western ontario david chalmers anu, nyu area editors. See all 10 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. A summary of thick description the interpretation of. In the interpretation of cultures, the most original anthropologist of his generation moved far beyond the traditional confines of his discipline to develop an important new concept of culture. Clifford geertz, the interpretation of cultures philpapers. In her book, philosophy in a new key, susanne langer remarks that certain.
The book was listed in the times literary supplement as one of the 100 most important publications since world war two. The essay by anthropologist clifford geertz, which first appeared in his bestknown book the interpretation of cultures, has been published in russian as a separate work in garage and ad marginem presss minima series deep play is a study of the balinese tradition of cockfighting, based on a year of anthropological research conducted by geertz at the end of the 1950s, when he and his wife. It has left a mess all over my room as it is falling apart and the binding has rotted. Culture, geertz argues, does not drive human behavior. 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. 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. He asserts that the essentially semiotic nature of culture has implications for the social sciences in. Clifford geertz set forth interpretative anthropology as a natural science, based on the extrinsic theory of the mind. View notes geertz from ant 261 at north carolina state university. Partly as a response to earlier anthropological schools like functionalism, structuralism, evolutionism who undermined the cultural aspect, and partly resorting to parsonian understanding. Selected essays is a 1973 book by the american anthropologist clifford geertz. Geertz opens with the claim that the interpretation of culture is semiotic in nature. Clifford geertz 19262006 was an american anthropologist and sociologist, who wrote extensively on traditional cultures and religions in southeast asia and north america. Search for library items search for lists search for.
The interpretation of cultures clifford geertz download. The interpretation of cultures is clifford geertzs attempt to lay out the epistemological goal of the field of cultural anthropology. August 23, 1926 october 30, 2006 was an american anthropologist who is remembered mostly for his strong support for and influence on the practice of symbolic anthropology, and who was considered for three decades. Geertz deep play notes on the balinese cockfight clifford. His research was largely focused on symbolic aspects of collective activities traditions, rites, celebrations, social movements as well as on the worldviews and ethics. In the interpretation of cultures, the most original anthropologist of his generation moved far beyond the traditional confines of his discipline to develop an. The interpretation of cultures is an academic classic. At the university of chicago, geertz became a champion of symbolic anthropology, a framework which gives prime attention to the role of symbols in constructing public meaning. Geertz first defines culture itself as a fully semiotic term, meaning that cultures meaning is unique and everchanging for every person who. Buy the interpretation of cultures basic books classics new ed by geertz, clifford isbn.
Interpretation of culture posted on january 30, 20 by sitareist clifford geertz revolutionized the concept of culture by not only prioritizing it over the concept of social structure for the anthropological inquiry, but also by defining it as a symbolic system 17. This is a digital version of material made under licence from the rightsholder, and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Buy the interpretation of cultures book online at low. Clifford geertz 1926present began his academic career at antioch college in ohio as an english major and went on to study anthropology at harvard. Clifford geertz, interpretation of cultures, basic books classics clifford geertz, available light. The late clifford geertz was lauded for his 1973 anthropological volume, and i do not find this to be hype. Clifford geertz revolutionized the concept of culture by not only prioritizing it over the concept of social structure for the anthropological inquiry, but also by defining it as a symbolic system 17.
In the interpretation of cultures, clifford geertz neatly collects many of the essays written throughout his academic career. The interpretation of cultures clifford geertz staff uny. Clifford geertzs thick description explained summary. Contents preface part i 4 chapter 11 thick description. The interpretation of culture and the culture of interpretation jstor. Geertz concludes that semiotics and symbolic action is the means for interpreting cultures effectively, since cultures are symbol systems, and actions are symbolic in of themselves. The interpretation of cultures is clifford geertz s attempt to lay out the epistemological goal of the field of cultural anthropology.
Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Anthropology as a natural science clifford geertzs extrinsic theory of the mind. The theater state in nineteenth cein tury bali princeton, n. Following ryle, geertz holds that anthropologys task is that of explaining cultures through thick description which specifies many details, conceptual structures and meanings, and which is opposed to thin description which is a factual account without any interpretation. Clifford geertzs bestknown work was the interpretation of cultures, published in 1973. The interpretation of cultures clifford geertz is mu. From field research in indonesia and morocco to highly theoretical pieces, geertz contributed a massive amount of work to the study of anthropology, including a new definition of religion, which has been subjected to much admiration and scrutiny. Notes on the balinese cockfight clifford geertz reprinted from the interpretation of cultures the raid early in april. The interpretation of cultures by clifford geertz is a collection of essays that shows the evolving pattern of geertzs thought rather than a singular work with a unified theoretical stance discuss religion as cultural form of expression with relevant examples. Buy a cheap copy of interpretation of cultures book by clifford geertz.
It was a collection of essays that were written during the 1960s, and it established geertz as an anthropological theorist. Geertz believed that the role of anthropologists was to try to. Notes on the balinese cockfight, which appeared in his 1973 book, the interpretation of cultures, was a wideranging interpretation of how the people of bali saw themselves in relation to violence, social status, morality, and belief schudel, 2006. A few zealots persist in the old keytotheuni verse view of it. After being given the opportunity to do research in indonesia, geertz. Clifford geertz american anthropologist britannica. Aug 15, 2017 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.
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