Clifford Geertz

From Geography

Clifford Geertz (1926-2006) was an American anthropologist who is best known for his work on symbolic and interpretative anthropology (Geertz, 1973). He was born in San Francisco, California and after serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II he received his B.A. in philosophy from the Antioch College in 1950 after which he studied Social Anthropology at the Harvard University where he received his PhD in 1956. In his life he received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from some fifteen colleges and universities.

Symbolic anthropology

Geertz's best known work is 'The interpretation of Cultures' in which symbolic anthropology is central. This symbolic (or interpretative) anthropology is a framework which gives prime attention to the role of symbols in constructing public meaning (Geertz, 1973). His approach to culture is basically 'semiotic' (meaning the study of signs and symbols) in regarding culture as 'a series of signs and symbols which convey meaning' (Jackson and Smith, 1984). By signs and symbols he meant 'the things done, the gestures, the artistic products and so on' (Cloke et al., 1991, p. 90).

References

• Cloke, P., Philo, Ch. & Sadler, D. (1991). Approaching Human Geography. Chapman, London.
• Geertz, C. (1973). Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture. In The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays. Clifford Geertz. pp 3–30. New York: Basic Books
• Jackson, P. & Smith, S.J. (1984). Exploring Social Geography. Boston, London.

Contributors

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