Blog #1: Culture: Deeply Felt or Contested Zone

The purpose of our first learning unit is to define and discuss the relationship between culture and communication, and also explore definitions and components of socio-cultural identity. Martin and Nakayama (2012) offer three central definitions of culture that fit into one of the three main paradigms in communication: social scientific, interpretive, and critical. For the purposes of our blog discussion, I would like to focus on two of those definitions. The interpretive perspective, which defines culture as "contextual, symbolic patterns of meaning, involving emotions" and the critical perspective, which defines culture as "heterogeneous, dynamic, contested zones" (Martin & Nakayama, 2012, pp. 91,94).

Interpretive work in culture and communication is often conducted through an ethnography of communication. Through this approach, scholars investigate verbal and nonverbal activities that have symbolic significance and meaning for members of a particular culture group (Martin & Nakayama, 2012). These communicative activities not only provide a common interpretation for all members, but these activities outline rules and patterns that guide the group's interaction.

In fact, your Cultural Reporter project is designed in the spirit of an ethnography of communication. You will collect and analyze interpretive data (interviews and observations) that explore a particular cultural group of interest. You will analyze the data and develop a few central themes regarding the group's communicative behaviors and patterns. You will focus on symbolic significance, which is defined as "the importance or meaning that most members of a cultural group attach to a communicative activity" (Martin & Nakayama, 2012, p. 92).

In addition to the interpretive approach to culture, a more recent perspective focuses on a critical framework for understanding communication and culture. This approach explores heterogeneity and the conflictural nature of cultural boundaries (Martin & Nakayama, 2012). This area of scholarship draws attention to these boundaries and describe them as "contested zones" that are not easily agreed upon. By viewing cultures as contested zones, inquiries of culture and communication can help us understand the struggles of various groups across cultural contexts. For example, a critical approach to culture can shine a light on the religious and ethnic struggles occurring within the African nation of Sudan. I have linked a short documentary that does an excellent job breaking down the conflict in Sudan as related to clashes in ethnicity and religion. 

(McCormack, P., 2008, February 25)

For the purposes of this blog assignment, I would like you to investigate the definitions of culture from both an interpretive and critical perspective. In order to do this, you will need to analyze the lyrics to songs from your favorite music artist.

You will need to listen to and analyze the lyrics to several songs in order to identify patterns in this artist's music. Begin your blog by identifying your favorite musician and which songs you selected to analyze and why. Then describe 2-3 patterns you located in the songs. Then think about your own cultural position in conjunction with this music. Finally, discuss which framework  - the one proposed by cultural ethnographies (culture as deeply felt) or the one proposed by critical studies (culture as a contested zones)- more adequately articulates the connection between culture and communication.

References

Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2012). Intercultural communication in contexts (6th ed). Boston,   MA: McGraw Hill. 

McCormack, P. (2008, February 28). Darfur in 10 minutes: An overview of the conflict in Sudan. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USLDoIiFzzg