With a title and book cover that resembles the feel and look portrayed by Autonomedia books such as Temporary Autonomous Movement
and others by Bob Black, this title caught my attention as it peeped at
me through a stack of aged and tattered books in a run down Anaheim
bookshop. 
With chapter titles such as "The Paradox of Culture," "Hidden
Culture," and "Rhythm and Body Movement" I had to pick up this title.
I've read plenty of anthropology books
- most of which were ethnographic in one way or another - but must say
that Hall is probably one of the most unorthodox and revolutionary
anthropologists that I have ever read. What Freakanomics is to
Economics, Beyond Culture is to Anthropology. Below are a few concepts
high lightened by the book:
M-Time vs P-Time
Hall identifies two different concept of time and space systems;
Monochronic time (M-time) and polychromic time (P-time.) "M-time
emphasizes schedules, segmentation, and promptness... It is also
tangible; they speak of it as being saved, spent, wasted, lost, made
up, accelerated, slowed down, crawling, and running out." Meanwhile,
P-time is "characterized by several things happening at once... [and
opposed to M-time] is apt to be considered a point rather than a ribbon
or a road, and that point is sacred." In Puerto Rico's P-time system,
for example, an American would perceive the line at a local bakery to
be chaotic and without order. "There is no order as to who is served
next, and to the northern European or American, confusion and clamor
abound."
Hall makes the dangerous conclusion
that "without schedules and something very much like the M-time system,
it is doubtful if our industrial civilization could have developed as
it has." Hall's statement has revolutionary impact on culture-economics
relations. If P-time systems are not as industrialization-friendly as
M-time systems, should not successful should not a public policy be
tuned to such a reality? P-time Latin America has traditionally adopted
the economic policies of M-time systems without having the "cultural
tools" required to carry out such a task. Neoliberals might push for
assimilate into a M-time system, but I once again must differ. Economic
policy reform is much more convenient, efficient, and easier than the
reform of an entire culture. P-time-friendly economic models must be
pursued.
And now to expand upon a number of points made by Hall:
Technology as Solution
"World problems such as food and housing," state Hall, "are seen as
technological." Genetically modified foodstuffs, nanotechnology, and
stem cell research, for example, are often praised as solutions to
serious world problems. Ironically, the industrial revolution and the
green revolution were similarly championed as solutions to the evils of
the poverty.
Proponents of such a concept believe
that methods must be found as to where a given product can be extended
to those who need it. By making food cheaper to cultivate and market,
it is believed, social justice can be achieved. The final goal does
little to restructure social mobility access and existing power
arrangements. It simply extends a service from an inefficient and weak
grid to surrounding areas. Ironically, technology has furthered our
capacity for exploitation and large scale destruction. Neither the
industrial nor the green revolution has allowed mankind to secure its
survival as a species - but in fact has endangered it.
Panhuman Syncing
Video taping subjects talking at a 1/18 and 1/24 frame rate, Hall
noticed a considerable amount of common body synchrony in body
movement. Hall refers to a person's array of physical gestures and
expression during conversation as a sort of "dance". Subjects portrayed
the same gestures and syncing and even shared identical recording pen
movements when connected to an EEG. "When the two people talked, the
recording pens moved together as though driven by a single brain."
While "it appears to be innate",
syncing is also culture-specific. "American children," states Hall,
"synced with Chinese just as well as they did with English [but] while
infants will sync with the human voice regardless of language, they
later become habituated to the rhythms of their own language and
culture." The study concludes that body movements are "rooted in
biology (bio-basic) and modified by culture".
Even if one was to learn a foreign
language, misalignment with body movement patterns can cause
communication difficulties. Americans and the English, for example,
"have problems reading each other's kinesics." Hall calls this a "local
beat".
Hall's observation revolutionizes the
way one can perceive music. When one finds a style of music that do
they not like, this is attributed to a "poor job in capturing the
perception and rhythm" of a local beat.
Product of the Environment
Hall makes reference to yet another interesting study:
[Science reporter]
Rosenhan, and his colleagues presented themselves to twelve mental
hospitals in five different states on both coasts. This group of sane
scientists simply told the admissions personnel that they heard voices
uttering words like "thud," "empty," and "hollow." [sic] Otherwise,
everything the scientists did and said, including their case histories,
was true. In all cases, hearing voices was sufficient cause for
admission. Once inside, regardless of their behavior, Rosenhan and his
group were judged insane and treated accordingly. The mere fact that
they were patients in the actual situation of a mental hospital was
enough to distort every perception of the hospital staff. There is no
such thing as a patient independent and separate from his hospital
situation.
Archives:
Search: