A collection of academical essays in which geertz, with trademark ironic wit, invites readers to meditate with him on the central puzzle and conundrum of the humanities and interpretive social sciences. Toward an interpretive theory of culture study questions 1. The interpretation of cultures clifford geertz staff uny. 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. Clifford geertz has 26 books on goodreads with 15352 ratings. Geertz, along with such scholars as donald mccloskey the rhetoric of economics, james boyd. Culture, geertz argues, does not drive human behavior. For comments, encouragement and pointers to references many thanks to martin van bruinessen, martin doornbos, linda herrera, frans. To date there has been no impartial, comprehensive, and authoritative work published on this critical figure. Clifford geertz 19262006 served on the faculty of the institute for advanced study in princeton, new jersey. Washington clifford geertz, an anthropologist whose imaginative studies of cultural groups from other countries changed the intellectual underpinnings of anthropology and other social sciences, died oct. 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.
The american cultural anthropologist clifford geertz born 1926 did ethnographic field work in indonesia and morocco, wrote influential essays on central theoretical issues in the social sciences, and advocated a distinctive interpretive approach to anthropology. The interpretation of cultures geertz, clifford on. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Geertz clifford works and lives the anthropologist as. Clifford geertz on writing and rhetoric lisa ede thejac interview with clifford geertz provides elegant confirmationif anyone needed itof the reasons why this closet rhetoricians work has drawn the attention of many in composition studies. Clifford geertz american anthropologist britannica. Impact of the concept of culture on the concept of man. Geertzs influence is summed up by anthropologist sherry ortner, in the introduction to the fate of culture. Learn clifford geertz with free interactive flashcards.
Clifford geertz has characterized the western concept of the self as peculiar in that it is a bounded, unique, more or less integrated motivational and cognitive universe, a dynamic center of awareness, emotion, judgement and action organized into a distinc. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this clifford geertz study guide and get instant access to the following biography. The interpretation of cultures is a collection of essays spanning the fifteen years of clifford geertzs career as a cultural anthropologist since he took his ph. Further essays in interpretive anthropology,1 picks up where his pathbreaking the interpretation of cultures2 left off. Writing and interpretation article pdf available in sociologija 441 january 2002 with 1,891 reads how we measure reads. Clifford geertz school of social science institute for advanced study princeton, nj 08540 june 8, 1988 after some yearsof publishing empirically oriented booksandarticles on java, bali, and morocco,which mostlyspecialists read, i collected in this volume the more theoreticallypointed ofthe articles and attemptedto explain theintellectual. Usa, as son of clifford james geertz senior, a trader and businessman 18911966, and his wife lois briegergeertz a former semiprofessional tennisplayer, 18951974 cliff j. Navy in world war ii 194345, geertz studied at antioch college, ohio b. Clifford geertz 19262006 american anthropologist aim of most of his work is to provide an understanding and acknowledgement of thick description that exists within cultures. Clifford geertz, who has died aged 80 of complications following heart surgery, was one of the most influential anthropologists of his generation. Theorist clifford geertzs influence extends far beyond anthropology. Clifford geertz, american cultural anthropologist, a leading rhetorician and proponent of symbolic anthropology and interpretive anthropology.
File history click on a datetime to view the file as it appeared at that time. Department of anthropology, northwestern university, evanston, il, usa this paper considers the conceptual, ethnographic, ethical, and methodological implications of. At the heart of the interpretive anthropology clifford geertz pioneered, or at. Contents preface part i 4 chapter 11 thick description. The uses diversity tanner lectures on human values. Singular genius of interpretive anthropology white. Clifford james geertz was an american anthropologist who is remembered mostly for his strong support for and influence on the practice of symbolic. When an anthropologist, urged on by an attentive publisher, begins to gather together certain of his essays for a kind of retrospective exhibi tion of what he has. Geertz the uses of diversity 255 strauss, incorrigible, read his entire text, apparently at high speed, in the time left. Clifford geertzs most popular book is the interpretation of cultures. 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. How does geertzs example of the difference between a twitch and a wink demonstrate the interpretive relevance of thick description. 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.
Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Choose from 35 different sets of clifford geertz flashcards on quizlet. Having called various sorts of spirits from the vasty deep, writes geertz, i thought it necessary to show that. Debating self, identity, and culture in anthropology. Rather, it is a web of symbols that can help us better understand what that behavior means. 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. Books by clifford geertz author of the interpretation of.
Clifford james geertz august 23, 1926 october 30, 2006 was an american. The impact of the concept of culture on the concept of man, the interpretation of cultures. Clifford geertz was born in san francisco on august. Clifford geertz is one of the foremost figures in the reconfiguration of the boundary between the social sciences and the humanities for the second half of the twentieth century. The interpretation of cultures clifford geertz is mu. 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. Partly as a response to earlier anthropological schools like functionalism, structuralism, evolutionism who undermined the cultural aspect, and partly resorting to parsonian understanding. Clifford geertz, antropologia cultural, antropologia. Selected essays clifford geertz basic books, 1973 chapter i thick description. Drawing on his own background in philosophy and literary studies, geertz both. This volume reflects the breadth of his influence, looking at geertz as a theorist rather than as an anthropologist. The second contribution deals with examining ethnography and understanding what it is and what it does. To paraphrase another wellquoted passage of geertzs, ethnography is an elaborate exercise in thick description geertz 1973f.
Buy the interpretation of cultures 3rd revised edition by geertz, clifford isbn. Common sense as a cultural system by clifford geertz very early on in that album of notional games and abrupt metaphors he called philosophical investigations, wittgenstein compares language to a city. 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. Human nature, presumably everywhere one and the same, comes to us only in its local varieties, as a bewildering diversity of languages, cultures, cultural practices, beliefs, mentalities.