Geertz Literature & Language Coursework Research Paper (Coursework Sample)

Thick Description
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Thick Description
Introduction
Geertz is of the idea that the task of anthropology is that of interpreting cultures through a process he calls thick description. Thick description specifies various details, meanings and conceptual structures that are opposed to thin description. Thin description is a factual account without an in-depth interpretation (Geertz, 2005). For Geertz, thin description is not sufficient enough on culture interpretation. It is a misleading way of institutional analysis. In Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight Geertz argues that an ethnographer should present a thick description that is composed of not only facts but also be composed of commentary, meanings and interpretations of such comments. Geertz has therefore extracted meaningful structures that are said to make culture in an attempt to understand a society.
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