XXX Credit

So today we're watching a classic ethnographic film called "The Ax Fight." For those of you who can't come, you can go to the library, watch this and post a response.

Here are some questions to get you started:

1)Why does the fight start? (Whom do you believe?)
2) What roles do the women play in the violence?
3) What attempt is there to resolve the violence?
4) What, in the end, seems to calm things down?
5) What's the emotional tone during the fight? What sorts of evidence allow you to think that?

Have a good break!

Class on Wednesday--Extra Credit

Hey everyone,

I don't plan on canceling class on Wednesday, but I won't require anyone to be there since it's so close to the holiday. I will offer some sort of extra credit to anyone who attends. We'll probably do some sort of in-class assignment.

Have a good break,

Andre

No Blog Post Due! Work on Paper 2!

That's it!

Assignment #2
Ethnographic Essay
Due: Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

For this exercise you will be taking the role of an anthropologist conducting participant observation. Your grade for this assignment will be based on: 1) the quality and detail of your notes from your observation; and 2) a typed, well-organized presentation, of your observation with your own analysis of scene that you observed.

Pick a site to conduct your observation. Such a site should be “active.” Here are some suggestions:

1) The Art Institute Museum;
2) One of the city trains or buses;
3) Outside of the 624 S. Michigan Ave. building, i.e. the library.

You will observe, at a distance, about 30 minutes at your chosen site. Do not intrude on others at this site, just watch and listen. Write down what you have seen and heard during your time observing. In your notes, I would like you to: 1) create a physical description of the place; 2) describe the human interactions at the site; 3) and the participants in the interaction. During your observation, think about if any of the interactions convey any meaning, or serve some social function.

In the first paragraph of your papers I would like you to: 1) tell the reader, generally, what you observed; 2) why your paper is important; 3) what your paper will argue, or what your interpretation of the scene demonstrated to you.

In the remainder of the paper, I would like you to describe the physical description of the place, the human interactions at the site and the participants in the interaction. Organize these in a coherent manor and interpret the behavior at the site.

For instance, if you observe that the space outside of the 624 building is used primarily by smokers, you might argue that this space functions as a space for people to smoke since they are not allowed to smoke inside college buildings. If you notice that smokers outside this building typically interact with each other due to their marginalized status, you might take your analysis a step farther and argue that Columbia students use smoking as a means of creating social networks. You could possibly even read the interaction like an economic anthropology: is there gift exchange between smokers? If so, then what is the significance of the exchange? I encourage you to be creative in your analysis.

REMEMBER: TURN IN YOUR NOTES

Email me if you have questions.

Take Home Quiz--For Next Week

There is no blog post due this week. Your take home quiz (20 pts) should discuss one of the following questions. A thorough response should be approximately 2 pages. You should hand this quiz in by next week.

Oh--You do not need to read the article in your reader about the Zuni origin story. You can, however, read it if you are interested.

1) Bronislaw Malinowski, in his classic essay Magic, Science and Religion, claimed that each of these was a viable mode of cognition and that most societies exhibit all of them in variable proportions.

In what ways does magical thinking persist in contemporary North America?

In what ways does magical thinking persist in your lives at Columbia?

Is it likely to persist in the future?

2) Religious rituals are religion in action. Describe what in fact is accomplished by religious rituals?

Here's a story that you might find interesting.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7699066.stm

Peaceful Rally

Before heading over to Grant Park for what would be one of the largest gatherings of people for any candidate ever, I made sure to leave my wallet at home. I had read interviews with ex-cops that were claiming up to 7,000 gang members could very well be in the park and weaving through the crowd, snatching wallets. I also read about how they had a riot squad on duty, ready to go with beanbag guns. Knowing that one violent incident could spark a huge riot (and Chicago doesn’t have the best track record in the peace department), I was admittedly worried upon entering the event.

To my surprise, it was one of the most sane, organized events I’ve ever been to. People were all sitting in the grass in front of one of the jumbotrons, and in another area people were standing. Everyone was either paying close attention to CNN or talking amongst themselves. Whenever the CNN Projection would announce a new state Barack won, the park would turn into a frenzy of cheering, then, shortly after, it would return to silence.

The crowd was very diverse, like Chicago itself. I saw every nationality and every age imaginable. It seemed that everyone just wanted to come together and be a part of such a historic event. When it was announced that Barack Obama was the president-elect, the crowd went insane. It was like New Year’s in Times Square. There was hugging, kissing, and plenty of screaming. Then, five minutes later, everyone resumed their silence waiting for the speeches to begin.

John McCain gave his concession speech first. Whenever someone would boo, others would shush them. I, personally, wanted to hear what he had to say without some hipster heckling over it. I thought John McCain handled himself in a most gracious manner. He understood how important this election is to so many, and he acted accordingly. He wasn’t belligerent in any way, and whenever someone would boo him, he’d motion with his hands for them to stop. During this speech, some hipster in back of me was constantly throwing in his two cents… “Feeble…This guy is so feeble! Boo! You suck, old man!” I was so close to turning around and telling this idiot to shut his hipster mouth, but before I knew it, the speech had ended.

Then, soon after, Obama gave his speech. The whole audience was completely silent as he spoke. His words were so powerful that you could look around the crowd and notice people crying. This was a truly moving experience. It felt as though a new page was turning not only in politics, but in society in general. Everyone in the audience that night knew they were a part of something great.

As the rally ended, thousands poured out into the street in what resembled a peaceful march more than anything. The rally itself was amazingly peaceful, especially for its attendance. Never have I seen so many people at once in such high spirits.

If anything made me mad about the rally, it was how many people that showed up that had no idea about Obama’s actual policies. There was a good amount of people who simply came to shout “Fuck McCain!” That mentality is sickening because it reflects the intellect of a fifth grader. I would have loved to ask one of them just why they like Obama, based solely on his policies (and not his age, race, and face). But overall, it was amazing to see what can happen when enough people band together for what is right.

Extra Credit

For those of you who want some extra credit. I've decided that if you went to the rally, but didn't know about the extra credit assignment then you can post about what you observed at the rally on the blog and I'll give you 15 points towards your grade if you do a good job. For this, I'm not interested in hearing about your political stance, but about what you observed.

I believe that it was Edmund Leech, an important anthropologist who wrote "Political Systems of Highland Burma", who once dropped his notes in the river so he had to recall of them by memory. So I'm giving you the opportunity to recall the notes that you took in your mind.

So on the blog, you can post about your participant observation if you went to the rally in the South Loop.

If you want additional extra credit, then you can conduct a participant observation at the 55th Annual Powwow at the UIC Pavilion. I'll give you 25 points for this assignment too if you do a good job. Just give me your notes, and a typed up version of your notes for full credit. In the typed of version, try to make sense of your notes. Tell me if you noticed any patterns or uncovered any symbols, etc.

It's an inclusive event. It's probably about $10 to get in. There will be a lot of great food there....like Indian tacos, and fry bread, soups....mmmmmmm.

Here's the info:

http://www.aic-chicago.org/powwow.html

American Indian Center’s
55th Annual Powwow
November 14-16, 2008

AIC Powwow

UIC Pavilion ( University of Illinois, Chicago campus)
1150 W. Harrison Street
Chicago, IL

Relive the excitement of the 54th Annual AIC Powwow

Contact us: rhodge@uic.edu

Vendors: contact joep@aic-chicago.org

Host hotel: 99.00 per night, free parking (10 minutes from powwow)

Will accommodate large vehicles for vendors.

For more information: aic50@aic-chicago.org

Hey Everyone

You have one more week to do your response for this time. Go for it.

All I need is a miracle

As a poster previously said before I agree in that this paper was hard and confusing. However i did get a gist that it talked about the comparance of science and magic. I remember reading an article on how they discovered scientific answers to what really happened when Moses parted the Red Sea to help the Jews escape from the pharaoh. Though the article stated some really good ideas about what happened it didn't really give a solid answer. Though I believe that what happened was probably exaggerated or scientific I do believe there's a difference in magic and miracles I'd define Moses parting the Red Sea as a miracle. I believe that magic is more held for spiritual ways rather than religious. Magic is more of a belief, tradition, or idea that is practiced. However I find that magic is completely separate from religion. Magic is practiced by individuals or cults that believe it's real and that actually put time and effort into it. Miracles however are more something that you come upon. Such as a need for more money and finding a hundred dollars on the street. Those type of things can't be explained by science nor can they be achieved by magic... unless of course you deliberately practice a spell for wealth or superstition... but then again there is prayer and maybe that itself is magic?

Rational to Me is Irrational to You

I found the reading a bit confusing and hard to follow. I felt that I had to re-read paragraphs to grasp it and it amost seemed he didn't stay on topic. However I understood the main theme. From the reading, I am able to answer the question"Does a rational outlook to one's surroundings imply the absence of faith in magical rights?'

No because I think I have a rational outlook to my surroundings however, I believe their are many ways in which I could say some of my views are magical. Rationally all people should generally remember where they came from and that is the earth. Therefore we are one with the earth, a part of the earth, and we are the same and no better than any other species. This rational view hides so many magical and scientif rites. Also, it depends on what your definition of rational would be some may say my views are completely irrational and ubserd. However, I think that the bible is completely unrealistic and rediculous. A rational outlook on ones surrounding depends completely on the persons views, culture and surroundings that they were brought up with.

Paranormal State.

I respect science. I enjoy proven facts, theories tested and tried. Without solid facts, where would we be? The supernatural can be scary. It is the unknown. There are things out there we might never be able to prove with science or reason. I don't want to get into my personal beliefs on the supernatural here. Religion and spirituality..I don't know. I can't think or analyze anything with a grain of intelligence or clarity today. After the emotion and energy and love at the rally last night, why does everything else seem..I'm sorry. Okay, so to summarize, I hope by next week's blog I'll have more to say.

Love Potion #9

Magic is an idea, its an illusion. It carries no scientific proof or evidence. Similar to faith. You follow it to what you want to believe in. I don't believe in magic but then again i'm not religious either. There are people who chose to believe in the supernatural or in gods in order to fulfill a void of the unknown.  Yet religion is an accepted practice while magic is considered to be like a past time and silly.

On Magic and Science

Malinowski ‘s categorization of the sacred and profane is twofold. He discusses native cultures as having two different sides to them, the magical and the scientific.
First, he describes traditional acts and observances that are considered sacred to those who partake in them. These acts always go hand in hand with beliefs in supernatural forces or beings.
Second, he describes how each native culture no matter how “primitive” their actions seem or their tools look, they are all scientific in some way. Methods are connected to scientific processes, and the success of a culture or group depends on methods of survival, therefore rendering a significant portion of their lives scientific.

Spirituality vs. Science a modern distraction.

For the sake of wider spectrum's I'm going to say religion and spirituality. You don't have to be religious to be spiritual but that's another topic! The truth is this assumption that spirituality and science can't coexist is a recent (and dare I say ignorant?) perspective. Lets evaluate, yeah?

Muslims are extremely connected to science if you look at the actual teachings of Islam, Islam and science have been together since the middle ages. Buddhism is also extremely connected to science the Dalai Lama has said, "With the ever growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play reminding us of our humanity. There is no contradiction between the two. Each gives us valuable insights into the other. Both science and the teachings of the Buddha tell us of the fundamental unity of all things." The dissociation of science is a recent manipulation of leaders wanting mindless herds instead of educated masses, duh.

The problem lies in the fact that a lot of scientist are limited in their knowledge of religion/spirituality and a lot of religious people are limited in their knowledge of science. If both took the time to actually and unbiasedly evaluate the other they'd realize there's a lot in common. First of all lets take one of Newtons Laws, 'Energy can't be destroyed or created only transformed.' if you look at it from an open perspective you can say, hey that sounds a little like reincarnation granted not the literal sense of reincarnation. Our bodies are big balls of energy when we die that energy CANNOT, in the eyes of science, die it can only be transformed. What another example of scientific reincarnation? Isn't obvious, STARS! A star collapses in on itself all that's left over is the dust and after a shitload of time a new star is born out of those remnants. Hey, it's REBORN!

But lets have more examples of Spirituality and science coexisting. The spirituality of the Aztec, Maya, and the mother culture of the Toltec could NOT exist without science. ABSOLUTELY NO WAY. The Maya and Aztec inherited and enhanced one the most accurate and ancient calendars. In their ancient times they were one the the most advanced civilizations when it came to the calendar, mathematics and astronomy but of course that often gets neglected because teachers would rather spend more time talking about sacrifices. Malinowski said it himself, ''Primitive knowledge has been singularly neglected by anthropology." We assume that because a culture is tribal it is therefore unscientific completely sidestepping the fact that all tribal cultures are inseparable of nature. Nature is inseparable of science and it takes in depth observations of the earth and elements in order to time planting and harvesting. These aspects of spirituality become unfounded and 'primitive' because the culture would rather imbue these elements and facts of nature with respect. The idea that spirituality and science can't be friends is ridiculous maybe it has to do with the fact that the definition and idea of religion has morphed so much from it's original meaning that we can no longer see the similarities.

Not all religious/spiritual beliefs will be scientific for example legends and myths. For as far fetched as they sound we realize that they're stories meant to teach us morals and all that good stuff. The second we take things literally is the second we fail to see that science and spirituality can form a nice cohesive mix.

Magic, science, and religion oh my!

Magic and science differ in that science is created via experience and is corrected by observations and experiments, while magic is born of mysticism and tradition. But the main thing with magic is that it is "impervious" to all things that science stands for. While magic and religion differ in that magic is based on humans' confidence to control nature directly while religion is the "confession" of human weaknesses in certain areas and eventually begins to parallel with the qualities of science to which when magic must "succumb" to its reasoning.

Religion v. Science

The reading itself explains how religion and science can work together seamlessly. While in our country there always seems to be a battle raging between the two, very few people take the time to realize that both are valid.

Those who get solely behind science do so because it proves things. With it, there is a physical evidence behind everything not labeled a theory, many processes are explained through it, etc. However, much is left unexplained. People strive to explain the unexplainable through religion. This diminishes the need for further research because a certain outcome could be "God's will." This is why, in our country specifically, those who have faith in religion are looked at as ignorant. It should not be that way though. There are plenty of things we may never explain such as the ever-expanding universe, why we're here, and how everything came to be. Since science cannot currently explain such ideas, this makes a valid argument for religion. Many of the great scientists believed in God and science and understood how both could serve important roles in the life of a person.

Both religion and science have their place in society. Obviously, you cannot use one to explain the other but this only further proves why they're both necessary.

Separation of science and magic

In Malinowski's description of the Trobiband islander's gardening and agriculture he explains the difference between magic and science to them. The islanders have a clear knowledge of the natural course of growth, pests, weeding, and all other natural occurrences one must know in order to properly farm. Then there are also the "unaccountable and adverse influences" and "unearned" streaks of "fortunate coincidence". So as not to remain helpless in the face of these unknowns and chance occurrences, the islanders employ specific rituals and magic. They use both magic and science- with no confusions that one is the same as the other- in order to ensure the best crops. The article also goes on to explain the same distinctions in canoe building. 

Rationality, I don't believe, suggests a lack of faith in magical rites or religion. People who are smart and scientific, can still be religious. There only needs to be a separation between science and magic (similar to the separation of church and state in my opinion). I think most people need to believe in something that will protect them from, or at least explain, all the unknown elements that are still everywhere in our world. 

The Luck Dragon is my Homeboy.

There tends to be a notion in the educated mind that reason is the default position of the human brain. In the educated mind, faith is a useless, vestigial concept, one left over from a time when humankind was still vulnerable to the power of the natural world.
In his essays on science and magic, Malinowski provides numerous examples as to how the native Trobrianders integrate the principals of faith and practical reason seamlessly. Whether planting their crops or manufacturing and sailing their canoes, the Trobrianders have an essential, concrete grasp on what is required of them to make these endeavours successful. While at the same time, they maintain a healthy respect and reverence for the divine stresses present in their undertaking. This alone seems to answer the question of whether or not a rational outlook would make for an abandonment of the magical and supernatural.
In The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell illustrates for us the fundamental difference between a native society and a modern society in terms that well inform the topic at hand. In it he talks about how a rational outlook is essential for us, as humans, to operate in the physical world. It is out of this necessity that myth, magic and religion are born. Magic, in this understanding, is simply the exercise of maintain a closeness to the reverences one has for the physical world. Civility, monotheism, conquest and science are products of the modern age and serve as agents to corrupt and separate human beings form the natural world. Myth, magic and ritual are simply the agents humankind use to reconnect and embrace the natural world.
The magical rites of tribal peoples, as Malinowski writes, don't preclude them from work and focused endeavour. Instead they are interwoven into each part of the native's processes and daily lives. Their faith in magical rites is not a reason to forgo the important steps that make them successful, but simply, a way to make those processes more personal and culturally significant.
Lastly, I would bring up the notion that magic and religion are perhaps more closely related than Malinowski would have us consider. He demonstrates how the Trobrianders use reason and mechanics to manufacture their ships yet still perform magic rites while doing so. In this example he states that the islanders know fully that what they are doing will have a particular outcome. If the default position for humankind is to reason and estimate sucess on that reason, why the need for the rites at all? Simply- because the natural world is beyond our ability to control. Consider then, what is the point of magic? It is used to redirect the natural world and its forces in your favor. How is this magic realized? They use it through ritual and language.
In most modern religions there involves a principle of submission. Submission to the will of a higher being or authority, a being or authority we cannot understand or hope to control. A being we are at the constant mercy of. Yet, in every major religion, we are given means to contact that being, as with prayer. We are given means to appease that being, as with rituals like communion. We are given rules for which will allow for a deeper connection to the being, as with commandments. And we are told that the observance of all these things will gain us favor with the being. The only difference between magic and religion in this sense is the immediacy to the individuals participating in it.

Rational Magic

I don't know if you can see through the eyes of fact and science and still believe in things that are not concrete. Maybe it is possible? I guess if you can somehow marry the two and believe in both science and faith then it is possible to go through life believing in both hardcore facts and religion and magic. I guess I can consider myself a person who depends more on science and what can be proven but yet I have a deeply spiritual side. The spiritual side for most people is what they use to explain the unexplainable. Faith and mysticism is the tool of humanity to make sense of the things that our science can not explain. Science has to develop constantly and as a result is much slower than magic and faith. We find much needed comfort in our faith. We ask so many questions and some of them have been answered by science but there are still many more that need to be answered and until then we have magic, faith, and rituals to make sense of the universe we live in.

So I guess that answers my question. You can most definitely believe in both science and magic. Some people choose one or the other but there are some people that need and like both. Science makes things definite and factual. Magic and faith add mystery and awe to our lives. There is room for both I believe.

Maliowhat?

Reading this piece was for one confusing because it was very wordy and for two, the words were absurd and unnecessarily large. Not being an anthropologist made it hard to understand exactly what Malinowski was saying, not to mention his round about way to express what he was saying. His arguments seemed to go in circles, ending up contradicting what he was saying about the differences of magic and religion.

Answering the question, "does a rational outlook to one's surroundings imply the absence of faith in magical rites?" is complicated because people who do not believe in faith might believe in magic which would be rational to people who practice magic, and not to those who practice a religion. I feel as if a religious person who was explaining what religion was to a person who practiced magic, the one who practice magic would reply with, "oh, yeah, we have that in our society and we call it magic."

Is it the same thing? No, I do not think they are the same thing, however they are similar interpretations to a way of believing in how things have come to be and why things happen.

Extra Credit

If anyone wants 25 points of extra credit (if you do a good job), then act as the participant observer at the Election night rally tomorrow night in Grant Park.

You don't have to get into the rally in order to do this since there will probably be people all over downtown rallying.

Just hand me in your notes from the event and then type them up.

See you Wednesday.

Magic, Science and Religion Blog

For this blog, please either answer one or more of these questions or pose your own questions about the reading for this week (Malinowski's "Magic, Science, and Relgion").

How does Malinowski categorize the sacred and profane?

What do you think about his arguments? His definitions?

Narrate Malinowski’s examples of magical and scientific behaviors.

How does Malinowski distinguish between magic and science and between magic and religion?

What is signified by setting apart the sphere of work from the sphere of ritual among the ‘Trobriand Islanders?

Does a rational outlook to one’s surroundings imply the absence of
faith in magical rites?