Dirk Van der Elst’s “Culture as Given, Culture as Choice” Essay

In this text, anthropologists Dirk Van Der Elst and capital of Minnesota Bohanan discuss the concept of multi culturalism. The text states that an entirely different view of kitchen-gardening is needed in the understanding discourse of society. Elst analyzes culture using the example of analyzing sex. Elst makes it clear in his analysis that pluralities of identity are the norm, that everyone is multi-ethnic and multi-racial in some fashionEven when discussing the contemporary mainstream political debate over what constitutes multiculturalism, it is common cultural phrasing to view culture as a stagnant unit. Multiculturalism is defined in this text as the manner in which more cultures are incorporated into the framework of the dominant discourse., rather than being a way of deconstructing notions of how culture itself is perceived and misperceived.. Elst suggests that nothing really exists as culture, instead culture itself is a constructed, socially produced norm. After reading t his book I got the feeling that the authors purpose was mainly to advise each man-to-man to study and redefine his consume culture.So with that said, I dug down deep and asked myself, what does culture symbolize to me? And how does culture influence my person, political and social life? The book says that culture means everything that human beings bring forth created and transmitted socially across time and space (32). He also states on page 33 that people are said to carry culture, to bear it from one person or generation to an separate. My parents passed their culture on to me, and I will do the same for my children. I was raised a Roman Catholic, and in my family, our heritage plays a huge part. My Irish culture gives me a sense of pride. My parents started me in step terpsichore when I was five and I loved it. Saint Pattys Day is bigger than Christmas in my family.We corresponding to talk, we like to tell stories, and we like to drink, of course. But as much as I report m yself with being an American, a woman, a twenty something, elementary education major at Rowan University, or even a Catholic, Iidentify with being Irish more. Like I said, I grew up in my heritage, much in the same way many people may have heavy(p) up in theirs. My culture has always been a big part of my personal life, but I never really paid much attention as to how it assumeed my political and social life.As far as my social life goes, I do not associate only with other Irish people. I have a very culturally diverse group of friends. I mean that this also adds to who I am. I consider myself to be well rounded and open to many things and ideas. However, my fianc is an Irish catholic, and when I think to the highest degree it, about of my exes were Irish Catholics too. I couldnt tell you if I guide a partner consciously or not. It could be due to the fact that we have common interests, like drinking. Politics does not interest me at all. So with that said, at this moment my culture does not affect my political life because I dont have one.Perhaps what is most unique about this book is that it moves cultural anthropology from being this subject of strange behavior that is out there by others and makes it shut out and personal by repeatedly challenging the reader to use anthropology to identify with and appreciate ones self and ones own choices. It is a clear statement of why people should study anthropology. Mainly, in my own opinion, it makes you think and that is what is most important when you read.