Anthropology ZU1007001
Final Exam
Fall 2022(111-1)
111ZU1005 創國一 吳宇晴
2.
(1) As a start, interpretation is a layered activity. Since a single action might have
multiple meanings, we should attempt to dissect that behavior, like peeling onion by
layers, in order to see where the action is located in a dense network of framing
intentions and social meanings. The meanings could be at odds with one another; but
by adding layers and comprehending why conflict arises, we can make it complete.
Additionally, interpretation is, to some extend, a fiction. According to Geertz, there is
no true or false meaning; instead, interpretation is merely a creation and guessing
game, with the goals of defining action, providing reasons, and understanding. Since
each people would have different experience, they would have different interpretation,
which makes the meaning available to debate and revision; finally, it becomes
rigorous enough with opening up one’s to others.
(2) I agree that “thick description” is a rigorous enough point from which to pursue
anthropology since we should first figure out what is behind human action so as to
study variation and similarity. By thick description, we strive to depict one’s action in
the process of ripping, creating and speculating. As Geertz said “culture consists of
socially established structures of meaning”(12), it is necessary for us to locate an
identical action in the webs of signs since the meaning may differ based on occasions.
Apart from the point raised in the first question, there are two characteristic left which
refer to the microscopic scale and that we should focus on people communication
instead of an individual, which makes the process is detailed enough and more
comprehensive. Additionally, since the process mostly depends on the observer’s
point of view and the experiences he has had in the past, the result may vary
depending on the observer. Since human action is a complicated object, which is
challenging to comprehend through a single explanation, we should integrate all the
results and compare them to uncover variation and similarity. Eventually, it will lead
to a rigorous concept across space and time.
(3) “As a Native anthropologist, I was also rejecting the hunting story with
anthropology. I was not going to a faraway place to retrieve data and take it back to
the home of anthropology. I was trying to make anthropology work for my
community”, cited from Ranco(69). I think the perspective to observe is important in
interpretation. It could be preferable to observe a group, a process or a location about
which you have some fundamental knowledge rather than go somewhere you have no
prior knowledge to better focus. As we might bring personal opinions when observing
what we are familiar with, to be an outsider is the most important characteristic during
the process. By doing this, I think the likelihood of misunderstanding will be reduced
in some way; at the same time, discrimination and prejudice may no longer be present
in the process. (479 words)
4.
Being a formal process and being controlled by an outside force are the main causes
of Brazil’s indigenous protection programs failing. For a government, what they want
to obtain is not only people’s trust but also financial resources to run the government
and enforce policies, and occasionally, personal authority. In this instance, I don’t
believe the government is genuinely trying to stop the disappearance of native tribe;
rather, I think it may be an attempt to establish credibility and show the world they
have kept with the times. In fact, the president would not have championed the
companies driving the destruction of the Amazon, which has led to record levels of
deforestation, if they were truly intended to protect. As Ranco said,” capture
something of the Other that the West desires and bring it back for Western
consumption,” (62) to capture and protect extinct and endangered indigenous tribes is
what the Brazil government wants, in order to satisfy their “consumption”, reputation
abroad. In addition to the point already made, I wondered if those indigenous group
actually needed to be protected. I think the protection is similar to what Ranco said as
a hunting story, desiring of the Other. In reality, a culture’s eventual demise is a
natural historical process, increasing the likelihood that the indigenous groups have
already known and accepted their future. However, the policies halted and disrupted
the rhythm, which would ultimately lead to another tragedy, making them disappear
quicker than what them have imagined.
Meanwhile, treating indigenous group as an object to be protected and using an
outside force to enforce also led to the failure. For my point of view, I think
understanding is essential in the process of protection. However, in this case, from the
terms used in the news, such as “believe” or “perhaps”, it can be indicated that the
officials typically made assumptions about the events based on their knowledge rather
than genuinely understanding them by using the excuse of language barriers. As a
fieldworker, Malinowski had mentioned in the principles of method, “to live without
other white men, right among the natives,” (6) which refers to the importance of “with
natives”. Also, from other text like “to grasp the native’s point of view, his relation to
life, to realize his vision of his world” (60) or “I acquired ‘the feeling’ for native good
and bad manner” (8)—all of those had led to one conclusion, understanding the
native. Malinowski is just a fieldworker whose aim is to conduct research; what about
the people who what to do something for the indigenous? The outcome can differ if
they are able to fully comprehend the local and locate what they require. Above all,
instead of acting as an outsider, if the officials could step in the indigenous group life
by their pattern, it could be easier to maintain and document the culture. (480 words)
5.
(1) According to Mintz description, people tend to carry out different tasks at once,
which can maximize their enjoyment since they have in some way become
productive. There are various examples that can resonate with, in my personal
experience. First, sometimes when I go out to eat with friends, I may be
simultaneously purchasing online and chatting with people online in order to maintain
relationships. In reality, it seems impolite to the person I am with, but it is possible
that they are acting in the same way. In addition, I frequently view clips or movies on
websites and check social media for news and information while riding the MRT to
school. As a matter of fact, all of those enjoyments of packing experiences come from
the convenience that mobile devices and social media provide. We do not have to wait
because of their quick speed; instead, we can finish activities quickly. Additionally,
everything can be accessed online thanks to their extensive collection of information,
which cuts down the time spent looking. Last, we can use mobile devices whenever
and wherever because they are portable and Internet is available everywhere.
(2)
When I feel there was no enough time, social media always give the freedom that I
can perform several tasks at once. For example, I can shop online while I am
commuting if I need to buy clothes but do not have time to go to the store in person.
Also, if a paper is due soon and there are multiple exams to prepare for, I can finish
part of them while waiting or commuting. In a nutshell, social media gives me the
freedom to use time.
However, from my point of view, I think mobile devices and social media make me
less free to become a productive human being. According to Mintz, “can be packing a
great of experience into a short time and thereby maximizing enjoyment”, I think the
enjoyment would ultimately become a power which forces people to become a
productive human. People have no choice but become productive since they are
benefited by doing so. Also, from Seaver,” If you are not already ‘salve to the
algorithm,’ then ‘the algorithm is gonna get you.” (377) From this quote, we can find
out that people are enslaved by algorithm, a feature of social media, which means that
people do whatever social media “asks” them to do instead of utilizing them.
Eventually, we are controlled by social media—although we want to slow down, there
might be a strong incentive driving us to be productive as we can maximize
enjoyment with the help of social media. Above all, those phenomena refer to that
they have no choice but use social media to become productive, which means social
media make them less free to become a productive human being. (469 words)