Blog 2: Relativism

Title: A Relativism Facade

Source: Life observations

Relation: Anthro pg. 8; Conformity and Conflict Ch 3

     The truth is, everyone in the world is guilty of ethnocentric fallacy. That is to say, no matter how "worldly"  we claim to be, we are always going to believe that our way of life is the "right" way. We may accept other's choices and think it is okay for other people, but secretly we know our beliefs are right and they are just silly for thinking otherwise.  We hear that people in the bush interpret Hamlet differently than westerners and we as Americans think "Oh my goodness, how can they agree with Claudius?? How can they think Horatio was wrong? They don't know what a ghost is?" But reading deeper into the article, we see that the African elders are guilty of the same fallacy we are! They see Hamlet as a completely different story that has to be altered for them to even listen to it.
    We pass judgements and pretend to accept other's choices every day. Everything from sneering at a girl's "out of style" jeans, agreeing that some people eat dog because of tradition, or even agreeing with your friends that Lady Gaga's outfit was truly inspired!  *roles eyes*
     Culture is one of those things that is so personal that to judge one's as wrong or right is pointless. People are going to behave in the way that they have learned, to scold anyone for thinking differently than you is just plain ignorant and you should expect them to feel the same way about you, whether or not they are ready to say that to your face. Telling someone that they are wrong for their beliefes is like telling a rock they are not supposed to be a rock. Certain aspects of a culture must be looked at objectively, such as slavery or any other human rights violations. This is where relativistic fallacy comes in. Anthropologist must take on the responsibility of intervening if these unspoken lines are crossed. To stand by and observe is just as bad as to commit the act themselves.
     Deep down, we all know that each person's culture is dependant on their upbringing and the society in which they live and that everyone had the right to live the way they choose to. But we also know that those jeans are comfortable, eating dog is mean, and Lady Gaga is an entertainer and it is her job to be crazy... that's why she is on all of our ipods.
  


Ok, went on a little bit of a rant there but here is a nice quote to lighten things up! One of my personal favorites...

Let the aroma of your actions enhance the general sweetness of the atmosphere

                                                                                 - Henry David Thoreau

Haha, got to love that awkward transition from ranting to cute quotes.
Think about it...
Emmy

What is Culture? Do I Have One?

  Source: Personal observations
  Relation: Conformity and Conflict by James Spradley and David W. McCurdy


  Culture. As defined in the book Conformity and Conflict, it is the "learned and shared knowledge that people use to generate behavior and interpret experience" (CC p.3). Personally I see culture as how we as groups of people behave within our environment. I consider myself a part of many different cultures: student life at HSU, a passionate member of the Christian faith, a native Californian who grew up in Atlanta... and the list goes on. Being part of so many different cultures allows me to have a broader view of my current life situation. I can appreciate the freedom and the beauty that comes with going to school in such a nature rich community that seems removed from the busy city life, yet the normalcy of having family close all the time has put me into a sort of culture shock. When we are removed from our usual environment and placed into a foreign one, college for example, we become temporarily reserved and anxious until we learn to accept our new surroundings.
   The aspects of my explicit culture have been defined by all the different towns I have lived in, the people I have known, and most importantly the values I have grown up learning, and now share myself. My choices of clothing, the way in which I speak, the way I deal with relationships, all have been learned from my array of cultural backgrounds.
   So to answer the initial question, yes. I do have a very unique culture and cultural background, as every person does. It is important to keep in mind when defining culture, that geographical locations are important but they are not the greatest influence. It is the people and their behaviors that carry the most influence upon who you become.




Finally, I would like to leave you with a little treat. A quote from one of my favorite authors of all time, Mr. Oscar Wilde:

"Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others... Ethics, like natural selection, make existence possible. Aesthetics, like sexual selection, make life lively and wonderful, fill it with new forms, and give it progress, and variety and change".

Think about it ;)
Emmy