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ETHNOGRAPHY & CULTURAISM
ABOUT
For my final project for Theorizing Culture and Politics, I decided to do an e-portfolio about the concepts in Chris Barker and Emma Jane’s book of Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice. Instead of concentrating on a one chapter, I took bits and pieces from various sections like chapters 1, 2, and 8 of the book. I aim to explore into themes pertinent to my focus on cultural anthropology, encompassing concepts such as culturalism, research methodologies, ethnography, race, ethnicity, and post-colonial identity. By incorporating elements from these chapters and exploring these diverse concepts, I intend to craft a exploration and discussion within the realm of cultural anthropology.
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MAIN QUESTION
"How does the application of ethnographic methodologies contribute to understanding culturalism and its influence on post-colonial identity formation within the framework of cultural studies?"
"How does the application of ethnographic methodologies contribute to understanding culturalism and its influence on post-colonial identity formation within the framework of cultural studies?"
Let's start by breaking down the
definitions of ethnography & culturalism!
ETHNOGRAPHY:
Ethnography, stemming from anthropology, is both a practical and theoretical method aiming to comprehensively depict and analyze cultures through extensive fieldwork. Its goal is to generate rich, comprehensive portrayals known as 'thick descriptions' that express the intricate layers of intricate conceptual frameworks within cultures.
Ethnography focuses on the specifics of local customs while simultaneously linking them to broader societal dynamics. In the realm of cultural studies, ethnographic studies have primarily revolved around qualitatively investigating the values and significance embedded within an entire way of life.
Its methodologies involve immersing oneself into cultural aspects, life perspectives, and the shaping of identities within various cultural contexts. It encompasses a variety of qualitative techniques, including participant observation, detailed interviews, and focus groups. (Barker & Emma Jane, 2004, p. 36).
Click on the video to learn more about ethnography!
CULTURALISM:
Culturalism, on the other hand, according to Hoggart, Thompson, Williams, highlights the significance of culture in everyday life, emphasizing people's active role in constructing "shared meaningful practices" (Barker & Emma Jane, 2004, p. 49). Within this culturalist tradition, the empirical research studies how individuals actively create cultural significance and elements, focusing on the lived experiences rather than restricting culture to exclusive forms of artistic expression.
Williams and Thompson view culturalism as a form of historical cultural materialism, tracing the evolution of meaning over the course of years. They discuss examining culture within the framework of its material production and reception conditions, specifically exploring its class-based aspects to amplify the voices of marginalized groups and scrutinize culture's role in class dynamics.
Overall, culturalism prioritizes understanding meaning creation by individuals in historical settings, placing significant emphasis on history, interpretation, and the relationship between culture and power dynamics.
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