Decoding Culture
Decoding culture
What objects and behaviors are symbolic in this case? What are the important rituals in which these symbols are used? Are there any special languages or vocabularies, verbal or non verbal, which are used in this case?
Upon entering a culture, the first thing one is likely to see is the symbols, objects or behaviors that convey a specific meaning to the people who share a culture.
Though the focus is on the Mien culture, it is important to recognize that this case is about two cultures: the Mien culture and Linda's culture of science and medicine. Decoding cultures in this case requires, therefore, comparing and contrasting these two cultures. The case, however, doesn't show us in very much detail what the symbols, stories, …show more content…
The cure used in the Mien culture is a ceremony, and the objects used have symbolic value. The story about transferring the pain to the wall conveys the idea that non-material things such as pain can be physically moved from one place to another. Lying at the heart of Mien culture is animism, the view that the world is inhabited by spirits that reside in things, including people.
Within a culture, symbolic objects are treated as special, things that are out of the ordinary. Often, they are used in rituals, culturally meaningful pattern of behavior. The case, however, doesn't show us in very much detail what the symbols, stories, and worldviews of the two cultures are. The cure used in the Mien culture is a ceremony, and the objects used have symbolic value. The story about transferring the pain to the wall conveys the idea that non-material things such as pain can be physically moved from one place to another. Lying at the heart of Mien culture is animism, the …show more content…
In fact, this is really a case where there are no common standards by which everyone is evaluated. Within American culture what was done to Maria is clearly wrong, but within Mien culture it is considered useful and good. This case therefore brings to the fore the idea of cultural relativity, that is, the view that practices and behaviors can be judged only by the cultural standards of the culture in which those practices occur. Rejecting cultural relativity implies that there are universal standards by which the practices in all cultures can be evaluated. The problem with this position is
What objects and behaviors are symbolic in this case? What are the important rituals in which these symbols are used? Are there any special languages or vocabularies, verbal or non verbal, which are used in this case?
Upon entering a culture, the first thing one is likely to see is the symbols, objects or behaviors that convey a specific meaning to the people who share a culture.
Though the focus is on the Mien culture, it is important to recognize that this case is about two cultures: the Mien culture and Linda's culture of science and medicine. Decoding cultures in this case requires, therefore, comparing and contrasting these two cultures. The case, however, doesn't show us in very much detail what the symbols, stories, …show more content…
The cure used in the Mien culture is a ceremony, and the objects used have symbolic value. The story about transferring the pain to the wall conveys the idea that non-material things such as pain can be physically moved from one place to another. Lying at the heart of Mien culture is animism, the view that the world is inhabited by spirits that reside in things, including people.
Within a culture, symbolic objects are treated as special, things that are out of the ordinary. Often, they are used in rituals, culturally meaningful pattern of behavior. The case, however, doesn't show us in very much detail what the symbols, stories, and worldviews of the two cultures are. The cure used in the Mien culture is a ceremony, and the objects used have symbolic value. The story about transferring the pain to the wall conveys the idea that non-material things such as pain can be physically moved from one place to another. Lying at the heart of Mien culture is animism, the …show more content…
In fact, this is really a case where there are no common standards by which everyone is evaluated. Within American culture what was done to Maria is clearly wrong, but within Mien culture it is considered useful and good. This case therefore brings to the fore the idea of cultural relativity, that is, the view that practices and behaviors can be judged only by the cultural standards of the culture in which those practices occur. Rejecting cultural relativity implies that there are universal standards by which the practices in all cultures can be evaluated. The problem with this position is