What does ethnography study? The tasks of ethnography

This article sets out the answer to the question about what ethnography is studying. We will discuss this science in detail, point out some of its features, and justify its relevance and significance.

How to begin the answer to the question about what ethnography is studying? From the definition of the meaning of its name. Ethnography is a science that studies peoples. "Ethnos" in Greek means "tribe", "people", and "graph" - I write. Consequently, literally the name of this science can be translated as a "description of peoples". By analogy, for example, petrography is a description of stones, geography is the description of the Earth, etc. But there are no purely descriptive sciences. The description for any of them is only a basis for conclusions, the discretion of the laws in the development of a particular phenomenon and object. For example, geography learns the relief, vegetation, climate, fauna, etc. from the point of view of their interrelation, laws of development. Only knowing the patterns, we can use the riches of nature to serve society.

Speaking of what studies ethnography as a science, it should be noted that it, too, does not simply describe the peoples living on Earth. It learns the patterns by which they form and develop, as well as the reasons why one people is different from the other. On the basis of this, the following definition can be derived: ethnography is a science that studies peoples, which opens up complex processes of their development.

The emergence of ethnography

Although the factual data, which later formed the basis of ethnography, began to accumulate and accumulate quite a long time ago, it itself emerged as an independent science only in the middle of the 19th century. The object of its research first became sociohistorical organisms (sociors) - individual human societies, which continued to be primitive at the time of the emergence of this science. And ethnography first studied not so much them as an integrity, but rather the culture of these societies. It has always been and remains the only science, the subject of investigation of which are primitive societies. However, ethnography is a science that studies not only sociologists. You can select at least two of its objects.

Two objects of ethnography

In any precapitalist class society, with the exception of the ancient class, there have always been two related but different cultures: the elitist (the culture of the upper classes) and the folk (the culture of the lower classes). The latter, as it develops, is destroyed, but it disappears only under capitalism. This process often lasts a long time. And the science of interest to us, from its very inception, began to study not only a primitive culture, but also a folk, primarily a peasant one. This should be taken into account when answering the question about what ethnography is studying. The summary of the above is the following: from the very beginning she had 2 objects - primitive and popular culture.

Features of the development of ethnographic science in the UK

Great Britain was the largest colonial power at the time of ethnography. A lot of territories were subject to this state, and many of them were inhabited by primitive societies. But the peasantry in the UK has already disappeared by this time. As a result, in this country ethnography originated as a science engaged in the study of only primitive societies. And the study of what was associated with the remnants of the peasant world, engaged in undivided folklore. Nevertheless, early English scholars began to be interested in the peasantry of the societies of the East that were under the rule of Great Britain, primarily India (B. Baden-Powell, G. Maine). However, these studies were considered most often as not related to ethnography. In addition, their object was mainly a peasant community, and not a culture.

Ethnography in Germany

As for Germany, it also has its own view on what ethnography is studying. The definition of this science by German scientists was somewhat different, which, however, is easily explained. The fact is that the peasantry continued to exist in this country. Therefore, the answer to the question about what ethnography is studying in Germany was first: the folk culture. And only then began to appear the science of primitive societies, developed after Germany became a colonial power. By the way, it happened quite late.

The development of the science of ethnography in Russia

The peculiarities of the development of our country were such that the primitive and peasant world did not simply exist side by side, but also interacted and penetrated each other. The line between them often had a relative character. Therefore in the Russian scientific community there was a common name for this science (ethnology or ethnography), however there were no special terms for the two disciplines that made up it.

Ethnology and Race Theories

In Western Europe from the middle of the 19th century the second name of this science arose - ethnology. In translation, it means "studying peoples". This name is more suitable for reflecting the essence of the science of interest to us. However, it arose in Western Europe when racial theories, according to which nations are divided into higher and lower races, have become widespread. The lower races are natural people who are at a low level of social and economic development. They have no history, and even if it exists, it remains unknown. These peoples should only be described, that is, to record their vital activity at the present time. This should be addressed by such a science as ethnography.

Peoples who are at a high level of cultural and economic development are historical, having a long and complex history. They need to be studied, and this is the task of ethnology.

The use of the terms "ethnography" and "ethnology"

It should be noted that the division of all peoples into historical and natural, higher and lower majority of scientists still did not accept. They rightly believed that there is only one science - history, which is divided into 2 sections: the history of human society and the history of nature. The first began when humanity separated from the animal world. It is determined by the general laws of the development of society. Thus, the division of peoples into natural and historical has no scientific basis. However, the term "ethnology" still entrenched in the West for the science of peoples. In Russia, for its designation, the term "ethnography" is usually used. Nevertheless, it should be noted that in these terms, both in Russia and in the West, the same content was put: it was the study, and not the description of the peoples living on Earth.

At the All-Union Conference held in Alma-Ata in 1990, it was decided to unify the terms that denote the science of peoples. Ethnography in our country also began to be officially called ethnology. However, the term "ethnography" has survived. Today we say "ethnographic museums", "ethnographic expeditions", etc. Thus, ethnology and ethnography are two terms that serve to denote the science of peoples.

Differences between nations

People living on Earth differ in terms of race (physical) characteristics - by the color and shape of the hair, the color of the skin, the growth, the structure of the soft parts of the face, etc. By this feature, they are divided into Mongoloid, Europeoid, Negroid, and mixed in racial Attitude. Physical anthropology is concerned with the study of all these differences between them.

The peoples of our planet speak different languages - German, English, Russian, etc. Languages are united in related language families. Linguistics is concerned with their study. It deals with grammar, phonetics, vocabulary of languages.

People inhabiting the Earth are also distinguished by their names (Russians, Tatars, Georgians, etc.), self-consciousness (I am a Byelorussian, I Kirghiz), peculiarities of the psyche and a whole complex of cultural and everyday elements inherent in each of them (the originality of clothes, dwellings, rituals in Social and family life, etc.). Thanks to this, each nation can isolate itself from the rest, not possessing these features. Ethnology, or ethnography, is studying these differences.

Ethnic Features

Thus, we can assume that the object of studying the science of ethnography is the people, and the subject is ethnic features. The latter are understood as self-consciousness, a complex of elements of spiritual, social and material culture, features of the psyche and life, developed as a result of a long historical development. All of the above features are, in their totality, the national culture of the people. It is the main subject of such a science as ethnography.

We will answer the question about why it is necessary to study the ethnic characteristics of a particular people, their culture.

Ethnography and history

First of all, knowing them gives us the opportunity to solve questions about its origin, historical development. The history of the people is written on ethnographic material. It should be able to read. Cultural and domestic features are always closely related to political, economic, environmental factors. Therefore, the entire cultural and household complex changes when these factors change. Consequently, knowing the life and culture of the people, one can speak about the natural-geographical and socio-economic conditions in which it existed. All this is very important for understanding the roots of its origin, as well as development. Due to the fact that ethnography solves all these issues, it can be considered a historical science. It is to this and it belongs to the classification status.

Ethnography is a social discipline

However, its meaning is not limited to what was said above. Very important is what ethnography is studying. Let us briefly characterize its significance on the other hand.

Knowledge of national life and culture provides an opportunity to determine the direction of various cultural and everyday processes that are currently taking place. And without their knowledge, it is impossible to carry out cultural and socio-economic transformations. On our planet, there have always been processes that have changed the cultural and everyday appearance of different peoples, and sometimes led to the fact that some of them disappeared, while others appeared. All these processes also relate to what ethnography is studying.

History knows many examples of the disappearance of some peoples and the emergence of others. In particular, once there were Thracians, Gauls, Meshchera, Bulgars, Measuring, etc. Today there are none. There were Frenchmen, Bulgarians, Tatars, etc. This was due to ethnic processes that had been intense in the past. They flow in our time. The direction they need to know in order to be able to manage the society optimally. The fact is that underestimation of trends in the development and functioning of ethnic groups leads to the emergence of interethnic conflicts, as well as to other negative consequences that delay social development on the path of progress. This problem, which is solved by science ethnography, gives grounds for its attribution to the cycle of social disciplines.

Ethnography and Ecology

And for the solution of actual environmental problems today, it is very important to know the cultural and everyday characteristics of different peoples. After all, these features significantly affect the direction of economic activity, which, in turn, affects the natural and geographical environment. Having no idea of the cultural and everyday peculiarities of the peoples concerned, one should not interfere in their economic activities. For example, it is not necessary to translate a nomadic people to settle down, settle in the valleys of mountain inhabitants, etc. This is fraught with significant moral and economic losses. It is not by chance that a new science has appeared in our time - ethnic ecology. It examines the various connections and interactions that exist between the natural-geographical environment and the individual.

Ethnography and politics

But this is not the full answer to the question of the meaning of what ethnography is studying. Class 5 in history lessons usually goes through the theme of "ethnography," but it only touches it superficially. Meanwhile, the importance of this science is very great. Without an understanding of the cultural and everyday characteristics of the various peoples inhabiting the Earth, it is impossible to establish cultural, political and economic contacts between them. And without them one can not imagine not only the development of mankind, but also its very existence. In order to live in good-neighborliness and friendship with any people, one must know it. In particular, this is relevant for multinational areas. After all, there live peoples, different in culture and language.

Musical Ethnography

In conclusion, we note that there are also interdisciplinary disciplines related to this science, one of which is musical ethnography. Specialists in this field are trained in conservatories. Perhaps you already guessed that studying musical ethnography? The correct answer is folk music. This discipline is at the crossroads of folklore, ethnography and musicology.

As you can see, what ethnography studies is very important from a practical point of view, and immediately in several areas. Therefore, the importance of this science is very great and it will always be relevant.

So, we sorted out the question of what ethnography is studying. The answer, we hope, you satisfied, and the information provided will be useful.