Comments on: Observing the locals http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/ Notes and Queries in Anthropology — A Group Blog Fri, 25 May 2012 16:53:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Derick http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/comment-page-1/#comment-296373 Derick Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:10:33 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/#comment-296373 Meme of course comes from Richard Dawkins' Selfish Gene (1976) Meme of course comes from Richard Dawkins’ Selfish Gene (1976)

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]]> By: John McCreery http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/comment-page-1/#comment-295599 John McCreery Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:00:52 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/#comment-295599 Lest we forget, it may be worth mentioning here Dan Sperber's relevance theory and epidemiology of representations. For references see, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Sperber Lest we forget, it may be worth mentioning here Dan Sperber’s relevance theory and epidemiology of representations. For references see,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Sperber

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]]> By: Kerim http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/comment-page-1/#comment-295446 Kerim Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:07:23 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/#comment-295446 "Meme" is common internet slang (in wide use on blogs) to refer to the viral spread of an idea, literary trope, or even a cultural practice. I was not using it as an "analytical tool," so much as implying that this trope was spreading without the help of any vast right-wing conspiracy, as evidenced by the Dowd column. For more information, <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=meme" rel="nofollow">Google the word</a> The fact that such a search results in 247,000,000 hits hints at how wide-spread the informal use of the term is. There are even websites like thedailymeme.com which attempt to track popular memes. “Meme” is common internet slang (in wide use on blogs) to refer to the viral spread of an idea, literary trope, or even a cultural practice. I was not using it as an “analytical tool,” so much as implying that this trope was spreading without the help of any vast right-wing conspiracy, as evidenced by the Dowd column. For more information, Google the word The fact that such a search results in 247,000,000 hits hints at how wide-spread the informal use of the term is. There are even websites like thedailymeme.com which attempt to track popular memes.

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]]> By: Strong http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/comment-page-1/#comment-295430 Strong Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:01:28 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/#comment-295430 Um, I think it would be unfortunate if this thread were hijacked into discussion of 'meme' instead of discussion of the on-going attempt by conventional media and the US right-wing to slime Obama by calling him a Marxist (Kristol), Marxian (Rove), anti-American (Spengler et al), and so on, and in particular discussion of their attempt to throw anthropology into the mix. The open red-baiting now occurring in the States is shocking; it's especially shocking to me that this discourse is not being slammed down by the Democratic party and is in fact being reproduced in part by Mrs. Clinton. The Clintons, Pelosi, Gore, and other Democratic leaders should be speaking out forcefully against this stuff and naming it what it is. I think Frank's assessment above is pretty accurate, but my own access to the mediasphere of US culture is limited (I feel terribly uncertain without access to CNN or Fox News). Anyway, my usual sources tell me that the debate last night exhibited new lows in US political discourse. Meanwhile: you know, like, Iraq, financial meltdown, global food supply problems, global warming... Um, I think it would be unfortunate if this thread were hijacked into discussion of ‘meme’ instead of discussion of the on-going attempt by conventional media and the US right-wing to slime Obama by calling him a Marxist (Kristol), Marxian (Rove), anti-American (Spengler et al), and so on, and in particular discussion of their attempt to throw anthropology into the mix. The open red-baiting now occurring in the States is shocking; it’s especially shocking to me that this discourse is not being slammed down by the Democratic party and is in fact being reproduced in part by Mrs. Clinton. The Clintons, Pelosi, Gore, and other Democratic leaders should be speaking out forcefully against this stuff and naming it what it is.

I think Frank’s assessment above is pretty accurate, but my own access to the mediasphere of US culture is limited (I feel terribly uncertain without access to CNN or Fox News).

Anyway, my usual sources tell me that the debate last night exhibited new lows in US political discourse. Meanwhile: you know, like, Iraq, financial meltdown, global food supply problems, global warming…

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]]> By: Richard Irvine http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/comment-page-1/#comment-295410 Richard Irvine Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:43:34 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/#comment-295410 Could you please explain your use of the term meme? Is it a useful analytical tool? Could you please explain your use of the term meme? Is it a useful analytical tool?

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]]> By: Fisher Cansing http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/comment-page-1/#comment-295292 Fisher Cansing Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:56:24 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/#comment-295292 I think what most of the articles are referring to when the word 'meme' is used is actually closer to the idea of a literary trope, that is, a repeatedly observed pattern of relationships between subjects, actions, and settings within a body of narrative. When disseminated through the internet, picked up by new writers, and reproduced in new articles, then they become memes. I think what most of the articles are referring to when the word ‘meme’ is used is actually closer to the idea of a literary trope, that is, a repeatedly observed pattern of relationships between subjects, actions, and settings within a body of narrative. When disseminated through the internet, picked up by new writers, and reproduced in new articles, then they become memes.

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]]> By: sean m http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/comment-page-1/#comment-294537 sean m Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:10:41 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/#comment-294537 I'm enjoying the Obama stuff (and don't have time to comment it at the moment), but what's up with the "meme meme lately on sm? You guys going all Dawkins cultural evolution-y on me? I’m enjoying the Obama stuff (and don’t have time to comment it at the moment), but what’s up with the “meme meme lately on sm? You guys going all Dawkins cultural evolution-y on me?

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]]> By: Chad Nilep http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/comment-page-1/#comment-294365 Chad Nilep Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:43:55 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/#comment-294365 The anthropology::race connection had not occurred to me, but it seems a good possibility. Two points: The 'bitter' comment that set off the current round of commentary was similar to Frank's _What's the Matter with Kansas_ in tying 'explosive' cultural values to broad political trends. Socio-cultural anthropology is vaguely relevant to this culturalist-versus-(Marxist) structuralist view of politics. Second, though _anthropology_ does not actually mean _non-white_ in any semantic sense, the two terms are in a related semantic field. See, for example, this on-line glossary of terms in primatology: "anthropology : the study of the races, physical and mental characteristics, distribution, customs, social relationships, etc. of mankind: often restricted to the institutions, myths, etc. of primitive peoples" http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/3220/NewGloss.html The anthropology::race connection had not occurred to me, but it seems a good possibility. Two points:

The ‘bitter’ comment that set off the current round of commentary was similar to Frank’s _What’s the Matter with Kansas_ in tying ‘explosive’ cultural values to broad political trends. Socio-cultural anthropology is vaguely relevant to this culturalist-versus-(Marxist) structuralist view of politics.

Second, though _anthropology_ does not actually mean _non-white_ in any semantic sense, the two terms are in a related semantic field. See, for example, this on-line glossary of terms in primatology:
“anthropology : the study of the races, physical and mental characteristics, distribution, customs, social relationships, etc. of mankind: often restricted to the institutions, myths, etc. of primitive peoples”
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/3220/NewGloss.html

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]]> By: Fred http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/comment-page-1/#comment-294229 Fred Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:11:22 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/#comment-294229 Obama is just a typical old style politician--kiss babies, shake hands, back slap (though I haven't seen him do that), and dress the part for whatever crowd is on the agenda. But Obama's success rests on being different, and that difference is the image of a new style politics. And so the press has to dig up a new vocabulary/story about the man. What better than this "anthropology" background. Almost Freudian with its emphasis on mother-influence, absent father (through divorce), the background of childhood playing out in the present and unconsciously guiding future actions. In the end its a double edged sword: on the one hand the emphasis on the otherness of Obama does set him above Hillary, who seems to sink into the ordinariness of politial diatribe; while at the same time if that otherness becomes too unfamiliar, it may alienate Obama from the general voting public. Certainly you can couch the issue of race in this framework. By the by, my own take on Obama is he is American and a politician. I don't expect too much. Then again, he may be another John Kennedy. (On the whole though, I think the Democrats are lining up for another Chicago 1968). Obama is just a typical old style politician–kiss babies, shake hands, back slap (though I haven’t seen him do that), and dress the part for whatever crowd is on the agenda. But Obama’s success rests on being different, and that difference is the image of a new style politics. And so the press has to dig up a new vocabulary/story about the man. What better than this “anthropology” background. Almost Freudian with its emphasis on mother-influence, absent father (through divorce), the background of childhood playing out in the present and unconsciously guiding future actions. In the end its a double edged sword: on the one hand the emphasis on the otherness of Obama does set him above Hillary, who seems to sink into the ordinariness of politial diatribe; while at the same time if that otherness becomes too unfamiliar, it may alienate Obama from the general voting public. Certainly you can couch the issue of race in this framework.
By the by, my own take on Obama is he is American and a politician. I don’t expect too much. Then again, he may be another John Kennedy. (On the whole though, I think the Democrats are lining up for another Chicago 1968).

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]]> By: Mary http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/comment-page-1/#comment-294141 Mary Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:09:24 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/04/16/observing-the-locals/#comment-294141 John Kerry had the same problem connecting with "ordinary" Americans last time, and he wasn't black. I've anticipated that Obama would become construed as the exotic outsider, "not one of us," but I didn't suspect that he'd construe himself as a hack anthropologist submitting his report explaining rural America to the San Francisco moneybags. That one surprised me. John Kerry had the same problem connecting with “ordinary” Americans last time, and he wasn’t black.

I’ve anticipated that Obama would become construed as the exotic outsider, “not one of us,” but I didn’t suspect that he’d construe himself as a hack anthropologist submitting his report explaining rural America to the San Francisco moneybags. That one surprised me.

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