(On line) Reading: Geertz, C. (1973). "Thick (On line) Reading: Geertz, C. (1973). "Thick Description," The Interpretation of Cultures. Description," The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books, p. 3-30.New York: Basic Books, p. 3-30.

Clifford GeertzClifford Geertz

Clifford Geertz, “Description: Toward and Clifford Geertz, “Description: Toward and Interpretive Theory of CultureInterpretive Theory of Culture,” The ,” The Interpretation of CultureInterpretation of Culture, (NY: Basic Books, , (NY: Basic Books, 1973), Chapter 11973), Chapter 1 What defines it is the kind of intellectual effort it What defines it is the kind of intellectual effort it

is: an elaborate venture in, to borrow a notion from is: an elaborate venture in, to borrow a notion from Gilbert Ryle, "thick description." Gilbert Ryle, "thick description."

Background on GeertzBackground on Geertz Clifford Geertz (1926-present) began his academic career at Clifford Geertz (1926-present) began his academic career at

Antioch College in Ohio as an English major and went on to Antioch College in Ohio as an English major and went on to study anthropology at Harvard. study anthropology at Harvard.

After being given the opportunity to do research in Indonesia, After being given the opportunity to do research in Indonesia, Geertz wrote Geertz wrote Agricultural InvolutionAgricultural Involution which surveyed two which surveyed two types of Indonesian agriculture, their geographic location, and types of Indonesian agriculture, their geographic location, and their historical development. their historical development.

His most influential work has been in the area of ethnographic His most influential work has been in the area of ethnographic studies, specifically research conducted on Javanese culture studies, specifically research conducted on Javanese culture (an Indonesian island).(an Indonesian island).

Geertz is best known for his attention to systems of meaningGeertz is best known for his attention to systems of meaning—the symbolic—in anthropological analysis of culture, how —the symbolic—in anthropological analysis of culture, how cultures change, and the study of culture at large.cultures change, and the study of culture at large.

http://academic.csuohio.edu/as227/spring2003/geertz.htm

Thick Description 1Thick Description 1

Thick Description is a term borrowed by Thick Description is a term borrowed by Geertz from Gilbert Ryle to describe and Geertz from Gilbert Ryle to describe and define the aim of interpretive anthropology. define the aim of interpretive anthropology.

It can be broken down as follows:It can be broken down as follows:

Thick Description 2Thick Description 2

Social Anthropology is based on Social Anthropology is based on ethnographyethnography, or the study of , or the study of culture.culture.

Culture,Culture, in turn, is based on the in turn, is based on the symbols symbols that that guide community behavior.guide community behavior.

SymbolsSymbols obtain meaning from the role which obtain meaning from the role which they play in the they play in the patterned behaviorpatterned behavior of social of social life. life.

Thick Description 3Thick Description 3 Because of the intertwined nature of culture and behavior, Because of the intertwined nature of culture and behavior,

they cannot be studied separately. they cannot be studied separately. By analyzing culture, one develops a "thick description" of By analyzing culture, one develops a "thick description" of

a culture which details "what the natives think they are up a culture which details "what the natives think they are up to." to."

This thick description is developed by looking at both the This thick description is developed by looking at both the whole culture and the parts of the culture (such as laws).whole culture and the parts of the culture (such as laws).

Thick Description 4Thick Description 4

Thick description is an interpretation of what Thick description is an interpretation of what the natives are thinking made by an outsider the natives are thinking made by an outsider who cannot think like a native. who cannot think like a native.

Thick description is made possible by Thick description is made possible by anthropological theory (Geertz 1973d; see also anthropological theory (Geertz 1973d; see also Tongs 1993).Tongs 1993).

Adapted From Adapted From http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/murphy/436/symbolic.htm http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/murphy/436/symbolic.htm

Illustrating Thick Description 1Illustrating Thick Description 1

Geertz uses an example taken from Ryle Geertz uses an example taken from Ryle which discusses the difference between a which discusses the difference between a "blink" and a "wink." "blink" and a "wink."

One, a blink, is an involuntary twitch (the One, a blink, is an involuntary twitch (the thin thin descriptiondescription) and ) and

the other, a wink, is a conspiratorial signal to a the other, a wink, is a conspiratorial signal to a friend (the friend (the thick descriptionthick description).).

Illustrating Thick Description 2Illustrating Thick Description 2

While the physical movements involved in While the physical movements involved in each are identical, each has a distinct meaningeach are identical, each has a distinct meaning

"as anyone unfortunate enough to have had the "as anyone unfortunate enough to have had the first taken for the second knows" (Geertz first taken for the second knows" (Geertz 1973d:6).1973d:6).

Illustrating Thick Description Illustrating Thick Description 33

This, Geertz argues, is the object of This, Geertz argues, is the object of ethnography: to decipher this hierarchy of ethnography: to decipher this hierarchy of cultural categories. The thick description, cultural categories. The thick description, therefore, is a description of the particular therefore, is a description of the particular form of communication used, e.g., a parody form of communication used, e.g., a parody of someone else's wink or a "normal" of someone else's wink or a "normal" conspiratorial wink.conspiratorial wink.

Adapted From http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/murphy/436/symbolic.htmAdapted From http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/murphy/436/symbolic.htm

Thick Questions to Discuss 1Thick Questions to Discuss 1

3. Why does Geertz mention E. B. Tylor (p. 4)? Who 3. Why does Geertz mention E. B. Tylor (p. 4)? Who was he? What did Tylor mean when he defined was he? What did Tylor mean when he defined culture as the “most complex whole”? culture as the “most complex whole”?

4. In one sentence can you explain the question 4. In one sentence can you explain the question Geertz raises in his description of Clyde Kluckhohn’s Geertz raises in his description of Clyde Kluckhohn’s Mirror for ManMirror for Man (pp. 4-5)? That too many definitions (pp. 4-5)? That too many definitions of culture make it analytically useless.of culture make it analytically useless.

7. Who was Max Weber? Why is he remembered?7. Who was Max Weber? Why is he remembered?

Thick Questions to Discuss 2Thick Questions to Discuss 2

9. Can you think of examples from your own 9. Can you think of examples from your own experience that demonstrate that culture experience that demonstrate that culture consists of “webs of significance”?consists of “webs of significance”?

12. What is the point of Geertz’s long 12. What is the point of Geertz’s long example, adapted from the work of Gilbert example, adapted from the work of Gilbert Ryle, of “twitches, winks, fake-winks, Ryle, of “twitches, winks, fake-winks, parodies, [and] rehearsals of parodies” (pp. 6-parodies, [and] rehearsals of parodies” (pp. 6-7)?7)?

Thick Questions to Discuss 3Thick Questions to Discuss 3 13. How might these twitches, winks, and so on be 13. How might these twitches, winks, and so on be

analyzed if we understand the study of culture as an analyzed if we understand the study of culture as an “experimental science”? How does our analysis “experimental science”? How does our analysis change if we believe that the study of culture is change if we believe that the study of culture is “interpretive”?“interpretive”?

15. What does Geertz mean when he says that “what 15. What does Geertz mean when he says that “what we call our data are really our own constructions of we call our data are really our own constructions of other people’s constructions of what they and their other people’s constructions of what they and their compatriots are up to”? compatriots are up to”?

Adapted from: Clifford Geertz, “Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture,” questions for discussion (adapted from: Adapted from: Clifford Geertz, “Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture,” questions for discussion (adapted from: http://themargins.net/fps/worksheets/geertzinterpretive1.html))