the forest of symbols aspects of ndembu ritual

The second major premise is that actions are guided by interpretation, allowing symbolism to aid in interpreting conceptual as well as material activities. The first is that “beliefs, however unintelligible, become comprehensible when understood as part of a cultural system of meaning” (Des Chene 1996:1274). There are two major premises governing symbolic anthropology. Symbolic anthropology views culture as an independent system of meaning deciphered by interpreting key symbols and rituals (Spencer 1996:535). Geertz’s position illustrates the interpretive approach to symbolic anthropology, while Turner’s illustrates the symbolic approach. Victor Turner, on the other hand, states that symbols initiate social action and are “determinable influences inclining persons and groups to action” (1967:36). According to Clifford Geertz, humans are in need of symbolic “sources of illumination” to orient themselves with respect to the system of meaning that is any particular culture (1973a:45).

Symbolic anthropology studies symbols and the processes,such as myth and ritual, by which humans assign meanings to these symbols to address fundamental questions about human social life (Spencer 1996:535).

These interpretations form a shared cultural system of meaning–i.e., understandings shared, to varying degrees, among members of the same society (Des Chene 1996:1274). Symbolic anthropology studies the way people understand their surroundings, as well as the actions and utterances of the other members of their society.

The forest of symbols aspects of ndembu ritual