Symbolism
Bookmark this page

A symbol is something human beings use to stand for something else (Needham).
Animals, as well as humans, have been said to use symbols, e.g. sign language, computer keys in apes. But they do not use it naturally, it is taught. They use signs, not symbols.
Humans are often described as the only species able to use symbols.
Examples: The Kwaio (purity and sacredness)
  The Trobrianders (clan totems)
Symbols can be used to separate the "them" and "us"- use of lags, uniforms, etc. SEE YANOMAMO PG 101.

4 properties of symbols:
-    Can be an object, a series of words (e.g. a pledge), an action (a salute).
- To use a symbol is to communicate something (attitude, feeling, abstract idea)
- Symbols are arbitrary
- Meaning of symbol is not necessarily immediate

Example of the "evil eye; in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Parts of Africa, South Asia etc. The way of preventing it is to wear a blue bead.

Sacred vs Profane-

Normal dictionary definitions:
Sacred- Made holy by religious association / connected with religion / used for a religious purpose.
Profane- Not belonging to what is scared or biblical.
 

Other Notes in this Category

1. Class and Caste
2. Cultural Ecology and Environmentalism
3. Development versus Dependency theory
4. Ethnicity / Ethnic Groups
5. Exam Questions
6. Exam Tips
7. Functionalism
8. IB Topic List
9. Malinowski and Functionalism
10. Poverty
11. Structuralism
12. Symbolism
13. The symbolic and social meanings- of Space
14. The Vice Lords: A study of Black Ghetto Culture

Didn't find this useful?

• Visit Coursework.Info for over 14,000 GCSE, A-Level and University Essays