Welcome to Group 2 Ethnography: Communication, Expression, and Technology!
Hello anthropologists! This chapter is incredibly relevant to your everyday life. We often think of communication as just talking, but for an anthropologist, it’s much more—it’s how culture is created, maintained, and transformed.
In this unit, we explore how people share meaning, express their identities (verbally and non-verbally), and how new technologies are completely reshaping human societies and power dynamics globally.
Why is this important? To truly understand a society, we need to know how they classify the world, which is primarily done through language and symbolic expression. Plus, technology is one of the biggest drivers of change today.
Quick Review: Core Concepts for this Chapter
- Symbolism: The use of signs, objects, or actions to represent ideas or qualities.
- Culture: The shared systems of meaning that shape how we communicate.
- Materiality: The role of physical objects (like phones, writing, clothing) in communication and expression.
- Power: Who controls the means of communication (e.g., governments controlling the internet).
1. Language and Communication: The Cultural GPS
The anthropological study of language is called Linguistic Anthropology. It looks at the relationship between language and culture, focusing on how language shapes our social lives and ways of thinking.
1.1. Language as a System of Meaning
Language is not just a tool for description; it is a system that organizes our knowledge and belief about the world. Think of language as the cultural "GPS" that guides how we navigate reality.
Key Idea: Language and Perception
Anthropologists are interested in how different languages structure reality differently.
- Classification Example: In some cultures, there might be dozens of words for snow (reflecting its importance), while others have just one. Similarly, kinship terms (Aunt, Cousin) are structured differently across societies, reflecting different social relations and responsibilities.
- Color Terms: Do all cultures see the same colors? Research shows that the boundaries between colors (e.g., the difference between blue and green) are often determined by linguistic classifications, not just biology.
1.2. Non-Verbal Communication
We communicate much more than we say! Non-verbal cues are deeply cultural and relate directly to identity and society.
Example: A simple gesture like the "thumbs up" sign means approval in many Western cultures but is highly offensive in parts of the Middle East and West Africa.
Key Takeaway: Language is a primary way we transmit culture. Understanding a group’s language means understanding how they classify and prioritize the world, influencing their thoughts and actions (Sapir-Whorf hypothesis connection).
2. Expression and Performance: Communicating Identity
Expression refers to the ways individuals and groups outwardly communicate their values, status, and identity through actions, aesthetics, and material culture. Anthropologists often study expression through the lens of performance and ritual.
2.1. Performance, Ritual, and Symbolism
Cultural performances—whether a religious ceremony, a political rally, or a sporting event—are powerful forms of communication that reinforce social relations and group identity.
- Rituals: These are patterned, repetitive activities often saturated with symbolism. They communicate shared beliefs and transition individuals or groups through different social stages (e.g., rites of passage).
- Bodily Expression: The body itself is a canvas for expression and communication. This includes clothing, hairstyle, tattoos, and piercing. These choices instantly communicate social status, group belonging, and personal identity.
Analogy: Think of a school uniform. It instantly communicates belonging to the institution and a certain level of social expectation (rule-following, discipline).
🔥 Ethnographic Focus: The Use of Materiality in Expression
Anthropologists look at materiality—the physical objects used—to understand expression. The type of mask worn, the instruments played, or the colors used in a traditional costume all communicate specific cultural messages about belief and knowledge.
Did You Know? The concept of "deep play," coined by anthropologist Clifford Geertz, refers to high-stakes performances (like the Balinese cockfight) that are not just entertainment but profound dramas communicating local social hierarchy and power struggles.
Key Takeaway: Expression is how culture is dynamically lived out. It uses symbolism and materiality to communicate identity, group membership, and social order.
3. Technology and Cultural Change
Technology refers to the tools and methods used to organize, produce, and share knowledge and information. The arrival of new communication technologies (from the printing press to the smartphone) always brings massive cultural change.
3.1. Materiality of Communication
The type of medium used fundamentally affects the message and who receives it.
- Oral Tradition: Knowledge transmitted by voice relies heavily on memory, context, and immediate social presence. It fosters specific types of social relations.
- Written/Print Technology: Creates fixed, durable records. This allowed for the standardization of knowledge and the rise of nationalist identity (as people could read the same books across great distances).
- Digital Technology: Characterized by speed, networked connectivity, and global reach. This is changing our sense of space, time, and belonging.
3.2. Technology, Globalization, and Power
Modern digital technologies (like social media and the internet) facilitate rapid information flow, a key feature of globalization. However, they are not neutral tools.
The Digital Divide
The Digital Divide refers to the gap between those who have access to digital technology and the internet and those who do not.
This divide is a massive issue of power and inequality. Access to information, education, and political organization is often limited by who owns the technology and who can afford access.
Step-by-Step: Technology Transforming Social Relations
- New Forms of Identity: People construct specific online personas, creating new, sometimes ephemeral, forms of belonging (e.g., online fandoms, diaspora chat groups).
- Political Action: Social media allows for decentralized communication, enabling rapid organization and mobilization for political protests or social movements (challenging traditional structures of power).
- Surveillance: Governments and corporations use technology to monitor populations. This centralization of data represents a massive shift in how power is exerted and controlled, affecting personal freedom and privacy.
Encouragement: Don't worry if 'digital ethnography' sounds tricky. It simply means anthropologists must adapt their traditional fieldwork methods (like participant observation) to study online communities and interactions, too!
Common Mistake to Avoid: Assuming technology is inherently "good" or "bad." Anthropologists emphasize studying the cultural consequences and social usage of technology, rather than judging the technology itself.
Key Takeaway: Technology acts as a catalyst for massive cultural change. It creates new forms of social relations and identity but also highlights existing global inequalities related to power and access (the Digital Divide).
Quick Review: Linking Concepts for Ethnographic Analysis
When preparing for Paper 2 (Engaging with Ethnography), always link the specific topic (Communication/Technology) back to the core anthropological concepts.
Applying Core Concepts to Communication and Technology
Concept 1: Identity
How does technology create or modify an individual’s sense of self and belonging? Example: The performance of identity across different digital platforms (e.g., Instagram vs. LinkedIn) and how these platforms impose aesthetic standards.
Concept 2: Power
Who owns and controls the means of communication (media, telecom companies)? How does language itself enforce social hierarchy (e.g., the use of formal vs. informal language)? Example: The power imbalance created by surveillance technologies used by states against their citizens.
Concept 3: Symbolism and Materiality
How are physical objects used to convey meaning in communication? Example: Studying the symbolism of specific emojis or digital artifacts that replace traditional face-to-face symbolic gestures. The phone (a material object) is a powerful symbol of status and connection today.