Ethnographies Essay Example

book. She speaks clearly about cultural patterns. Benedict states "that what really binds men together is their culture - the Ideas and the standards they have In common" (Benedict 1934:16). Permeable art Is a book published In 1955, It Is by Franz Boas, unlike patterns of culture the main focus of the book is to give an analytic description of the fundamental traits of primitive art.

He states that the treatment given to the subject is based on two principles that he believes should guide the investigations into manifestations life among primitive people: "the one the fundamental sameness of mental process in all races and in all cultural forms of the present day; the other, the inconsideration of every cultural phenomenon as the result of historical happenings" (Boas 1955:1). Already with the purpose of this book and the title there is a sense of ethnocentrism. It shows that his already distinguishing himself from other people. Also his generalizing and unlike Benedict he looks at cultures as influencing the Individuals.

He looks at them In a broad scope that humans are what culture makes of them.

He pays attention more to environment than personality. Benedict perceives a culture to be like an individual: in that it is a more or less nature of the trait will be quite different in the different areas according to the elements with which it has combined (Benedict 1934:37 & 46). Moreover she states that if we are interested in cultural processes, the only way in which we can know the significance of the selected detail of behavior is against the background of the motives and emotions and values that are

existing in that specific culture (Benedict 1934:49).

Therefore according to her definition, every culture has a system of beliefs: the ideas and standards, the existing motives, emotions, and values that enable internal coherence (Benedict 1934).

While Boas in his book talks about the mind being the same in all cultures and argues that there must have been a time human mind evolved. As he suggests that the mind was different from his present days. He talks about the theorists who distinguish the primitive mind and the civilized peoples mind. He says that there is no difference in anyways .

He argues that behavior of everybody is influenced by the material he handles and man throughout the world handles material transmitted to him according to the same methods (Boas 1955:1).

He argues that there is no such thing as primitive mind . He says that this though can be perceived as one spends time with the primitive people through field work. He observes that primitive people are also like people from his own society the structure is the same (Boas 1955:2). This clearly emphasizes his notion of culture makes an individual.

Benedict suggests that the best way in which cultural patterns can be witnessed, is by evaluating cultures in relation to each other, in that way emphasizing the cultural differences -this is a comparative method . Further, she suggests, this comparative method will, almost unintentionally, provide a lens through which at the same time will make us understand "our own cultural processes" (Benedict 1934:56). Benedict mostly refers to the cultures as primitive cultures. This shows off ethnocentrism also. For example she keeps comparing the cultures she

studying to American culture as it is more civilized.

Furthermore she also states that primitive cultures are easy to study although they have patterns they are simple and there is no cultural change (Benedict 1934:20).

She continues by saying that modern American culture is simply too complicated and messy to provide quality analysis: "Western civilizations, with their historical diversity, their stratification into occupations and classes, their incomparable richness in detail, are not yet well enough understood to be summarized under a couple of catchwords" (Benedict 1934:54).

This also influenced the way she conducted her ethnography because she was concentrated on the fact that these cultures are simple and missed the complex and unique components of the Gun, Dobb and Kuwait cultures. "our advantage over primitive people is one of greater knowledge of the objective world, painfully gained by the labor of many generations a knowledge we rather apply badly and which we, or at least most of us discard as a strong emotional urge impels us to do so, and for which we substitute arms quite analogous to those of primitive thought" (Boas 1955:2).

He argues that society this is because the way people behave is influenced by the traditional knowledge at the disposal of the individuals.

Culture can be understood as historical growth determined by the social and geographical environment in which people are placed. Benedict does not whatsoever contact these people and get to know them. She does not do participation observation; she is not fully immersed into their cultures. Her research is done mostly by other field workers.

This shows what is known as armchair anthropology.

She does not go to the

people she gets ideas from other researchers . This also shows that the ideas she wants the reader to get is her own judgments or inferences but not necessarily from the people of the culture. Moreover she distinguishes between Apollonian (as Gun and how they are subtle in situations throughout their life, and Dionysian (Dobb as people who are mostly outgoing and more likely to be loud). The Dobb, research done by Ore Fortune in eastern New Guiana, paints a similarly complete image of the Dobb culture.

For example Like the Gun, almost every aspect f Dobb life mirrors their general cultural pattern, although, for the Dobb, their cultural trait revolves around a common and constant betrayal.

Benedict includes ethnographic monographs that symbolize this constant underlying pattern, interrupting her analysis with descriptive, though anonymous, examples: "The treacherous conflict which is the ethical ideal in Dobb is not palliated by social conventions of what constitutes legality. Neither is it ameliorated by ideas of mercy nor kindness, the weapons with which they fight carry no foils" (Benedict 1934:170).

This is an example that even though she includes Dobb voices she shows some sense f a mimic description of culture Benedicts description of Dobb culture remains generalizing. Like her descriptions of the Gun and Kuwait, this picture of Dobb culture includes few examples of cultural deviance, resistance or individuals who do not conform to the dominate cultural type. Referring to the Kuwait ethnographic library formed by Franz Boas, Benedict describes the culture of the northwest American coast in her final example. Returning to the concept Dionysian.

Benedict suggests that the Kuwait can be understood through their predominant cultural

idiom of excess, as embodied in their religious dances. For example she sates that "In their religious ceremonies the final thing they strove for was ecstasy. The chief dancer, at least the high point of his performance, should lose normal control of himself and be transformed into another state of existence. He should froth at the mouth, tremble violently and abnormally, do deeds which would be terrible in a normal state (ethnocentric voice).

Some dancers were tied up by four ropes, held by attendants, so that they might not do permanent damage in their Frenzy" (Benedict 1934:175-6).

In her conclusion Benedict suggests that, although cultural patterns can best be illuminated when cultures are placed in contrast to each other, this comparative conforms to an internal logic, a central morality would be a futile attempt to reconcile the "incommensurable" (Benedict 1934:223). Therefore, Benedict ends her work with a call for cultural relativism as facilitated through the comparative method and culture as personality-writ-large.

Boas explains that people spend their time doing work, these work gives aesthetic pleasure. This pleasure is however felt by all mankind. He makes reference to the crude song of Siberian, the dance of African Negroes and says that these appeal to hem as to any other song would appeal to a normal person.

Also different arts may have different aesthetic values for example rhythmical movements of the body or of objects, forms that appeal to the eye (boas 1934:10) another thing he discovered is art has an effect on people emotional behavior.

He writes about graphic and plastic art. He shows that in most cases primitive people deal with products of industry. Makes

reference to the fur clothing of the cheek and also metal work of Africa.

He writes that these activities however are part of some people cultures. He makes an example with the Californian Indians. Their chief industry is basketry. Almost all their households' goods, receptacles for storage, and cooking vessels (boas 1934:17).

He concludes by stating that art arises from technical pursuits, from the expressions of emotions and thoughts, as soon as they take fixed form.

He suggests that the more energetic the control the form of control of form over unconditioned movements (Boas 955: 349). Therefore artistic enjoyment is essentially based upon the reaction people's minds to form. Also that these are influences the culture as broad concept place on an individual. All people are able to retrieve and function complex mental abilities but culture also shapes it.