[Xmca-l] Re: Solids and Liquids/Entities and dynamic flows

[HENRY SHONERD]

Mike,
I could say

Resonating

Flowing

Sensing

Collaborating

Would that be essentializing? Not a bad rap though.:)

Henry



 
> On Aug 5, 2016, at 6:20 PM, mike cole <mcole@ucsd.edu> wrote:
> 
> I stumbled over an article on the "the psychological foundations of
> culture" with a summary/discussion article by Adams and Markus. (ref
> below). The authors contrast two prominent definitions/theories of culture
> prominent in the literature on the relationship between culture and human
> psychological processes. The characterization struck me forcefully as an
> example of Bauman's solid-liquid distinction in a different discourse
> stream, providing food for thought on the topic of mind, culture, and
> activity.
> 
> 
> 
> One approach is closely related to developmental approaches such as my own,
> Barbara Rogoff, Patricia Greenfield, Mike Tomasello). It traces its origins
> to ploughshares and agriculture, the process of making things grow,
> nurturing. a process transpiring over time. The other (Social Psychology)
> adopts "the customary beliefs, social forms, of a racial, religious, or
> social group."
> 
> 
> 
> The first, developmental approach is said to view "culture as dynamic
> process or flowing medium" while the second, social psychology view is
> described as an "entity conception of culture." The entity conception
> "implies a conception of culture as a relatively 'fixed' system of
> "customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits." It also associates
> this system with readily identifiable 'racial, religious, or social group."
> 
> 
> 
> The authors then list "several undesireable consequences" of adopting the
> entity point of view. I found these very interesting. I will just list
> them. If there is sufficient interest I can get a scan of the chapter made.
> 
> 
> 
> Stereotyping
> 
> Homogenizing
> 
> Essentializing
> 
> Reifying
> 
> 
> 
> There is, unfortunately, no similar list for the liquid, developmental,
> perspective. Liquids, Bauman remind us can spill and spoil the rug and need
> to be contained. They flow, to be sure, but that flow is constrained by a
> cup.
> 
> 
> 
> The authors adopt a view they call "culture as patterns."
> 
> 
> 
> The juxtaposition of these readings and the ongoing discussion of the 11 ox
> paintings has induced me to think again about long standing ideas. Always
> enlightening. Thanks.
> 
> 
> mike
> 
> -- 
> 
> It is the dilemma of psychology to deal as a natural science with an object
> that creates history. Ernst Boesch