Here's a thought on culture.
I chose Anthropology as a field of study because I was a) interested in history and b) interested in the world outside of "western culture." I hesitate to say "outside of the U.S." because even in the U.S. we've got cool cultures. I was really just sick and tired of hearing about the Greeks and the Founding Fathers. I mean - 12 years of that... (that's an entry for another time - or, if you're interested in chewing the fat about education, check out Husayn's blog).
So here I am, an anthropologie (it's the German spelling) student at the University of Illinois U-C and I've noticed a few things as I watch the culture of our department and other anthropologists:
1. There are a heck of a lot of white women studying anthropology.
2. There is a general sentiment that anything indigenous is best.
3. There is also a general (and corresponding) sentiment that "white" is wrong.
So I have a few thoughts about that. First of all, I can say that I am proud to be one of those white women - the fact that women are picking up on the desparate lack of world education in our public school system is indicative of their desire for education (a good desire, if you are the first educator of children).
Secondly, and more substantially, I am struggling presently with the latter two sentiments. At the root, I think that this dislike for "white" (by which I mean the historic colonization of the non-western world by the western one and the subsequent pillage & rape that accompanied it) comes from a sense of injustice. I can name countless instances where the western world (meaning white men in power) has profited greatly from the subjugation of others (and I will list them here):
1. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
2. The Slavery System in the United States and the subsequent disenfranchisement of a large percentage of the population, even AFTER the Emanipation Proclamation
3. The ruin of the Inca Empire in Peru in 1532, which involved a lack of courtesy, among other things
4. The deposition of the indigenous governments of various islands and nations in the Pacific by European "missionaries"
5. The displacement of Native American peoples and sucessive disregard for signed treaties (by the U.S. government, no less).
etc.
This sort of stuff makes me very very angry and grumpy. So I am glad that I am learning about the greatness of OTHER cultures.
However, and herein lies the dilemma, just because a culture is "indigenous" (or "authentic" or "in its natural state") doesn't mean that it is right. I know right is a relative term to many, but here I use it to mean anything that promotes the beterment of humanity.
And all of those terms, especially the "authentic" bit, is equally ludacris because everything is always changing, including culture, and there is no such thing as an "authentic" culture! More times than not, "authenticity" is defined by an outside source (usually a western one) in such a way that it profits not the peole themselves but some other body. For example and to clarify - the use of the Maasai in Kenya as "real, untainted Africans" for the benefit of tourist attractions. This may create jobs among Kenyans, but the rate of tourism depends on the "authenticity" of the Maasai - no one will pay to see a Maasai man in a suit and tie. The Maasai then are relgated to play a certain role, whether they really like to or not.
Yeah - and then of course there are other issues. Just because something is indigenous doesn't necessarily make it the best thing for the people. Female circumcision is a perfect example. Even though many of the women who have undergone it defend it staunchly, I think that it is a violation of human rights.
So in the search for an ever-advancing civilization, I think that there are a few things that are going to have to go. I can't tell you what they are because I don't know enough to make those sorts of judgement calls. However, I DO know that in the course of that advancement, certain cultures even are going to slowly change and grow - what is "indigenous" now may not be the same thing as what is considered "indigenous" fifty years from now. It is okay to let go some of those aspects of culture that inhibit the spiritual progress of its people. However, it is NOT okay to impose a certain set of beliefs on a culture via force and coercion. Let me be clear here.
Whew - more later. My fingers hurt.
love,
~liz
Posted by lizington at December 10, 2004 02:56 PMHmmm. I don't know if my comment is exactly one that is fruitful... but what do you consider "white"? I find it a bit baffling to see that Greek culture is coopted by "Western Civilization"... and that the Greeks themselves didn't see themselves as Greeks. What about all of the often overlooked "Greek" texts that survive only in Arabic? Eh, but that's my nit to pick... I think we don't study Classical Civilization nearly enough that we often reduce it to just Western, or "white" culture... I think, given their interesting geographcal location, that there was a lot more cross pollenization of ideas than previously thought... of which Baha'u'llah seems to hint at.
Posted by: Mark Fojas at December 20, 2004 08:53 AMAllow me to play devils advocate here…
Before I do so though… Do I as a white male (who has studied anthrop for 3 years and is well aware of the some of the shit white people have pulled throughout history) feel a massive sense of white guilt?? Yes.
From an anthropological point of view, well a contemporary view of the West’s past, strictly speaking, whatever atrocities they collectively committed, was part of it’s cultural development, and to a larger degree total judgement should be suspended somewhat. The question should be ‘today, did we learn from it??’ and ‘have we been able to better humanity from what we learnt??’. People from every culture have done bad things throughout their history, at the expense of other humans, and objectively speaking culture has been furthered, even if this has been a culture of corruption or murder. Culture is culture, whether good or bad.
Who knows, in 200 years time our forebarers may look back and say ‘how could they let such a culture of greed take such a firm hold globally? Couldn’t they see that millions of peoples were being deprived so that a select few could get uber rich, and that a global minority could have a comfortable lifestyle? This went on for decades and decades and even their global governing council did stuff all to fix it.’
Point being we can’t guess how the future humanity will judge us. We’re doing what we think is individually right for us in our respective cultures. Just as Westerners were doing hundreds of years ago while colonising.
You don’t have to be proud of your races past to benefit from the sum of its knowledge and growth. Their actions didn’t make them wrong, we did. (And as far as I am personally concerned that’s a good thing).
Anthropologists are meant to be objective. As shitty as that is, anything else is crusading.
Wow, Liz! This post hits on so many things I've been thinking about as I take more and more anthropology. I would elaborate, but you've already said everything so eloquently. And I have to go back to my paper (grr). I'm going to miss taking anthro classes with you!
Posted by: Katie at December 12, 2004 07:11 PMI think guilt is probably a natural stage to go through with learning about colonization, but I think over time (maybe not such a short time) that guilt will be translated into a sense of collective loss. If you think about the progress we've made it's actually quite amazing. I mean just the fact that there is a widespread understanding of the negative aspects of colonization and most people of European descent are aware of some of the injustices that took place along with the establishment of Western Civilzation is an amazing leap that really took place more or less in one generation.
Posted by: Nathan Davis at December 12, 2004 04:34 PMYeah - I think that for a long time many have been living with guilt regarding the treatment of indigenous peoples by Europeans and those of European descent. It IS a learning experience and the conclusion that I have come to (at present) is that we need to approach that educational opportunity with respect and open minds!
Posted by: liz at December 12, 2004 11:18 AMI really appreciate your comments on cultural change. It's something I've been thinking a lot about. I have a book you might be interested in, written by a sociology professor here, called Globalization & Culture. The subtitle is Global Melange, and the book is about cultural change in the age of globalization. It's a really, really interesting and compassionate book, written by someone very critical of neoliberal policies but who is also very open to...how to say this...the good that comes from cultural exchange. The author is Jan Nederveen Pieterse. I can lend it to you over break if you'd like. It's a fast and accessible read.
Also, to build on what Mara said. I've heard very surprising things from several indigenous elders from several different nations on the coming of the Europeans. What suprised me was that there was no anger involved in talking about it. For the most part they viewed it as an educational opportunity! They felt that the indigenous people had things to teach the Europeans, and instead of focusing on what was lost they seemed to view it as a part of the evolution of humanity. That began to help me see all of this history (even present) in a very different light.
Posted by: Husayn at December 12, 2004 09:38 AMI think the first time my head turned about those 2 sentiments was when a woman, considered a Native American, said "you know, I think it was time for them [Native Americans] to go. There was a lot of ugly stuff going on in their cultures that we don't necessarily discuss." I thought my brain was going to explode - "huh? what...?" It definitely made me think. I will make no judgment about those statements, simply that it made me question the 2 sentiments you discuss.
Another, very helpful comment for me, being a white western woman, was "no one should be made to feel ashamed of their culture/background". That was a statement made by someone who has some authority in my life. It, too, made a lot of sense to me. You mean it's okay for me to be American? And to (horror) appreciate aspects of my Americanism?
How silly is it that I need to have someone tell me it is okay to be American?
Posted by: Mara at December 12, 2004 01:58 AM