Week #6 Question #1

1)Is it possible to perceive others without in some way judging or categorizing them? If so, how? If not, how can we make the judgments we do make more fair?

As an anthropology major I have been asked the same question when asked to examine various cultures through outsider's eyes. When an observer/participant of/in a foreign (not by distance but by knowledge) culture reacts to practices, beliefs, systems, or any other cultural product in a way which suggests the superiority/legitimacy of the observer/participant's own cultural products then the direct knowledge gained is tainted and is in need of further interpretation. This viewing of foreign cultures through one's own cultural lens is called ethnocentrism. At the core of anthropology lies the ethical debate of whether or not ethnocentric studies in fact yield "relevant" knowledge. While the core of mainstream anthropologists in every branch would side with the ethical standpoint of rejecting ethnocentrism and responding to foreign cultures and their cultural products in an open manner, one could also make an argument that anthropology has also been used quite often for the purpose of domination (ethnocentrism indeed). One of anthropology's famed mothers, Ruth Benedict, conducted a study during World War II which involved examination of Japanese media in order to further understand the culture and then systematically demoralize them. Her work was highly regarded by the U.S. military and was later published under the title, The Chrysanthemum and the Sword (it is also interesting to note that in the past 3 years Benedict's work has again become very popular through out Asia as multi-national tensions increase with Japan). One could also fan the flames of conspiracy by stating that the recent torture/degradation techniques witnessed at Abu Gharaib were based on the insight of an anthropologist (or someone very culturally aware), but we may never know. None the less, ethnocentrism is a double edged sword any way you look at it. So, to answer the above question: yes, I definitely believe it is possible to perceive others without judging or categorizing them, however, whether or not we do is based on our own agenda.

NOTE TO INSTRUCTOR: I e-mailed you about this post. Please see e-mail 10/3 8am