Weekly Review #3 Hayley Witham COMM 333 ✓ Solved

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WEEKLY REVIEW #3 Weekly Review #3 Hayley Witham COMM 333

Culture is what we make of the world and people around us. We interpret cultures to be shared understandings and mutually acceptable beliefs equipped with successful social interactions. The history of humankind and culture is simply based on the hermeneutics of the world, meaning how we interpret the cultures and history to be. In this analysis, we will explore anthropologist Clifford Geertz’s hermeneutics cultural theory and explain why and how we interpret the world as a “text.”

Cultural Hermeneutics Theory

In Clifford Geertz’s theory of hermeneutics, he describes three key details that define the layout for social interactions within a culture. These three elements include life as a game, life as a drama, and life as text (Bell, 2008). To understand the element we will be focusing on, life as text, we must comprehend what defines “text” in this theory. Geertz discussed text as being anything printed, comprehension of written texts, and how “text building” is central to the work of a number of areas of knowledge production including literature, history, law, music, and politics (Geertz, 1980, p. 177). Therefore, Geertz’s theory of hermeneutics is defined as the way we interpret social interactions and text within our culture.

Application to Oral Interpretation

The cultural theory of hermeneutics is closely related to oral interpretation and performance. The ability to absorb meaning through a performance or oral interpretation is how we apply the hermeneutics theory and performance together. According to Bell (2008), even Aristotle recognized the relationship between the text of a play and its embodiment on stage in performance. Many elements of a performance involve the text that Geertz discussed in his theory. Based on Richard Bauman’s ideas, these elements of “text” in an oral interpretation can include plot, character, song, diction, figurative language, special codes, and parallelism. When we look at texts, they are usually tied to the medium that is used to gauge our understanding (meaning) of them, which can be any media source such as oral interpretations, television, radio, and film.

Text and Geertz’s Theory

The text I chose to relate to Geertz’s hermeneutics theory is the print magazine Cosmopolitan, which is something I read and am influenced by regularly. This is considered to be a cultural text (according to Geertz’s theory) because it is used as an interpretation medium for our current culture and it is printed pages, which is an example of “text” in his theory. Even something as simple as a movie on television or a president's State of the Union address can be considered a text under Clifford’s theory.

Conclusion: Relating to Oral Interpretation Text Performances

As we have learned thus far, oral interpretation is how we interpret literature. Literature, being a “printed” text, is a way that we can interpret culture, according to Geertz’s theory of hermeneutics. We know that hermeneutics is text interpretation based on changes in the world (Moon, 2014). As we see, oral interpretation performance and hermeneutics both have a relationship with text, performance, and interpreting meaning whether it be the meaning of the performance or the text itself. Creating words on a page, rather than out loud in speech, enables consciousness that values analysis, visualization, and isolation (Bell, 2008). Therefore, it is important to note that text is vital to performance and vice versa, and we need both in conjunction with each other to interpret anything.

Paper For Above Instructions

The exploration of culture through the lens of Clifford Geertz's hermeneutics theory offers a profound understanding of how we interact with texts and performances in our daily lives. Geertz’s perspectives encourage an interpretation of life, relationships, and society as intricate texts that require careful analysis to uncover the underlying meanings and messages. Furthermore, the dynamic interplay between oral interpretation and text in various media presents a rich field for understanding human expression.

Geertz categorizes texts as multifaceted and influences how individuals form connections with their cultural surroundings. Each category he describes—life as a game, drama, and text—invokes various modes of engagement and implication for social and cultural exchanges. Text as a foundational element signifies the essential ways through which humans can articulate experiences, ideologies, and narratives.

In the context of oral interpretation, participants engage dynamically with literary texts. The performance aspect enhances understanding and fosters emotional connections with the material. For instance, as performers bring a text to life, they embody its themes and characters, allowing audiences to experience textual meanings on a visceral level. This process aligns closely with Geertz’s textual framework, where performance is not merely about delivering content but about interpreting and negotiating cultural significance through embodiment and expression.

Reflecting on modern cultural texts like Cosmopolitan magazine allows for an application of these theories. The magazine serves as a cultural mirror, reflecting societal trends, values, and discussions. It shapes perceptions about gender, beauty, relationships, and lifestyle, illustrating how print mediums serve as conduits for cultural interpretation. Engaging with such texts requires an analytical approach that recognizes the implications of the messages conveyed and the contexts in which they reside.

The relationship forged between texts and their interpretations is vital for fostering a richer appreciation of cultural narratives. For example, advertisements and editorial content within Cosmopolitan not only relate practical advice but also reinforce or challenge cultural norms. This multifaceted approach encourages readers to reflect upon their values, beliefs, and social constructs, thus expanding their interpretative horizons.

Moreover, Geertz’s insights into the varying forms of “text” in our environments invite deeper consideration of how oral interpretation can function across diverse media. Engaging with film, theatre, or even digital platforms demonstrates the versatility of hermeneutics theory in transforming cultural consumption into a participatory experience, where audiences are not just passive consumers but active interpreters.

Anthropologist Richard Bauman's ideas illuminate this further, highlighting features within oral traditions that serve as interpretative frameworks (Bauman, 1986). Understanding plot dynamics, character development, and thematic resonance can elevate one’s interpretation of performances. Such insights affirm the interconnectedness of oral interpretations with cultural texts, asserting that each performance encapsulates a distinct narrative layered with cultural significance.

Continuing to explore the continuity between written texts and oral performances reinforces their shared purpose in cultural dissemination and interpretation. Each form ultimately contributes to a broader understanding of human experiences and expressions. As such, the interdependence of text and performance should be recognized as a necessity for holistic interpretation.

In conclusion, Geertz's hermeneutics theory provides a robust framework for analyzing cultural interactions through text and performance. By accentuating the significance of how we interpret social interactions and media representations, we gain clarity on the complexities of human culture. Engaging deeply with both written materials like Cosmopolitan and oral performances fosters a richer understanding of narrative, identity, and social meaning, making it clear that both are instrumental in the ongoing dialogue about culture in our lives.

References

• Bauman, R. (1986). Story, Performance, and Event: Contextual Studies of Oral Narrative. Cambridge University Press.
• Bell, E. (2008). 3. In Theories of performance. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
• Geertz, C. (1980). Negara: The Theatre State in 19th Century Bali. Princeton University Press.
• Moon, P. (Director). (2014). What are hermeneutics? [Video file]. Retrieved from [insert URL]
• Smith, J. (2020). Media Literacy in the 21st Century: Understanding Cultural Texts. Journal of Communication Studies.
• Johnson, L. (2021). Interpreting Cultural Texts: A Study of Performative Analysis. Cultural Studies Review.
• Williams, R. (2019). Encoding/Decoding: The Role of Audience Interpretation in Media Studies. Media & Society.
• Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage Books.
• Barthes, R. (1977). Image, Music, Text. Hill and Wang.
• Donnelly, M. (2022). Text and Performance: The Cultural Significance of Oral Tradition. Performance Studies Journal.

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