clifford geertz 1973 the interpretation of cultures

'a set of techniques for adjusting both to the external environment and to other men' 'a set of standardized orientations to recurrent problems' 'a way of thinking, feeling, and believing'Ī theory on the part of the anthropologist about the way in which a group of people in fact behave 'the social legacy the individual acquires from his group' In attempting to lay out the various meanings attached to the word 'culture,' Clifford Geertz refers to the important anthropological work, Clyde Kluckhohn's Mirror for Man, in which the following meanings are suggested: Matthew Arnold for for perspective on the great transition which has taken place regarding the concept 'culture' in Western thought over the past century Raymond Williams's perspective might be taken as a middle ground in this transition. Bodley and Geertz can both compared here with

The most influential aspect of Geertz's 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 notice this emphasis as you read the summaries and excerpts below. Learning Commons - What is Culture? - Definitions - GeertzĬlifford Geertz, Emphasizing Interpretationįrom The Interpretation of Cultures, 1973Ĭlifford Geertz (1926-present) is best known for hisĮthnographic studies of Javanese culture (Java is an Indonesian island south of Borneo) and for his writings about the interpretation of culture.

Clifford geertz 1973 the interpretation of cultures