Don
Mitchell is a geographer writing a scholarly paper to fellow geographers. His title “There’s No Such Thing as Culture”
is a reconceptualization (meaning to form into a concept) an idea of culture in
geography. Mitchell is bringing up a
very interesting concept to his fellow geographers that maybe the way in which
cultural geographers look and focus on culture pertaining to geography should
possibly be challenged. Mitchell is
suggesting that the main focus of modern geographers should not be on its original
origins. Instead, Mitchell is suggesting
that culture and it’s origins are almost impossible to define because culture
is not naturally occurring.
Mitchell
goes on to explain that, “In this paper I will establish a rationale for
dispensing with the notion that ‘culture’ is ontologically rooted, and then
proceed to show how such an understanding liberates geographers and others to
understand how the idea of culture (rather than culture ‘itself’) has been
deployed by powerful social actors.”
Mitchell
is trying to move away from the idea that “culture is everything” as so many
geographers focus on. He argues that,
“the idea of culture leads to an infinite regress: there is no solid ontological ground that
serves as a foundation for ‘culture’.
Even so, powerful social actors continue to behave as if there is
something called ‘culture’, for it is precisely the phantom nature of ‘culture’
that provides the idea’s power.”
Mitchell would rather see more studies and a focus on the idea of
culture being used as a means of attempting to create order, control and a way
to define others in the name of profit and power.
Disagreeing
with culture geographers like James Duncan and Peter Jackson whom both have
very different views of what culture is and how it should be defined; Mitchell
proceeds to agree with one aspect of which Jackson appears to hint that, “
‘culture’ in the end is indefinable, suggesting that ‘the stuff of culture … is
elusive, best approached obliquely in terms of the processes through which meanings
are constructed, negotiated and experienced’ “.
The
author continues to expand that culture ” is simply a list of activities.”
In reading this
article I had a few “ah ha” moments of my own.
I would like to further discuss my ideas and thoughts on those in power
who create culture for their own personal agenda and how it affects individuals. Secondly, I would like to discuss how culture
drives some of us crazy and stifles “authentic living”. Lastly I would like to share my thoughts and
feelings of the millennium and if culture will play a role or not in society.
Mitchell
brought up a very interesting concept that had never crossed my mind before. He expresses the idea that culture is not
naturally evolving. He emphasizes the
thought that culture has been created by those in power for their own profit
and gain. This concept flabbergasted
me. It’s so true! There are endless examples of this in history
and in modern day. From the scriptures
we can read about the Judges in Alma chapter 11:20. These judges purposely fed contention in the
land to one against another just so they could make more money.
 |
| (Do you think Culture naturally exists or is it just all made up?) |
20 Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain,
because they received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they
did stir up the people to rioting’s, and all manner of disturbances and
wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money
according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir
up the people against Alma and Amulek.
On the contrary we can also see in the Scriptures that
King Benjamin was a vital component to Nephi culture for the good in bringing
about much righteousness among his people.
16 Behold, I say unto you that
because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not
desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God.
17 And behold, I tell you
these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in
the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
18 Behold, ye have called me
your king; and if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought
not ye to labor to serve one another?
19 And behold also, if I, whom
ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in
the service of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your
heavenly King!
20 I say unto you, my
brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole
soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and
preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye
should live in peace one with another—
21 I say unto you that if ye
should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you
from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do
according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to
another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be
unprofitable servants.
22 And behold, all that he
requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye
would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth
vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he
doth bless you and prosper you.
23 And now, in the first
place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are
indebted unto him.
King Benjamin is a fine example of his words and
deeds. He labored for his own food and
did not take from his people to provided riches for himself. Those were not his desires. He desired to keep the commandment of God and
serve others and that in turn affected his peoples culture and his teaches
became part of them and they were able to have a mighty change of heart and
come closer to God.
A similar vision of those whose task it is to run BYU-I
have created the Honor Code. Those in
power instill good values and have crated a culture defined by the “spirit of
Ricks”.
In more modern culture we can see the affect on culture
by those with power and authority. The
Cultural Revolution in China. The civil
rights movement. The women’s movement
and sexual revolution have clear implications that have affected our
culture. Today we see the “green
movement”, multiculturalism, and extreme fitness movements in the USA. I can’t help but question the motives of
these movements. Who is behind these
movements? What do they have to benefit
from them? Why do we feel that need to
participate?
My second “ah ha” thought that came to me while reading
Mitchell’s work was that if Culture is fake and made up by those in power
trying to push an agenda, why on earth are submitting ourselves to these
ridiculous standards put in place in our society? Mormon culture kills me! I suffer from major cultural dissonance here
in “Mormon Land”. The box of what a
Mormon woman is supposed to be is so very small. I don’t fit in that box. I have a potty mouth; I’m a single mom with
five kids who loves to wear skinny jeans and heels. I can’t stand maxi skirts, and Mormon
style. I am very passionate and have
oppinons about things that acutually matter and am not afraid to voice
them. I hate gardening and canning and
have no desire to start up a WHAM company.
Oh, sewing. Not going to happen! Crafting, toll painting, scrapbook-not for
this minimalist. I feel like I don’t fit
in or have a place or home here because I don’t fit in and fit nice and neatly
into “the box” and just get brushed aside.
My situation in life of being “single” in my mid thirties just freaks
people out. I am not introduced as
Sister Donnelly, I’m a “single sister”.
Really? I am defined by my
familial status among church members.
My biggest beef about culture is that it prevents us
from living true, authentic lives. We
all want to have a place and belong, so we try to find our niche in
society. For some that is
comforting. They play the part well and
they don’t have to stop and look deep down inside, they can find comfort in
mediocracy. I can’t do that. Yet, I feel
like I have to smother my true self.
My final thoughts on Mitchells paper are concerning the
Melinium. I was pondering on the idea if
culture would even exisit during the melinum.
If everything is running in God’s way during that time will we naturally
come to be the like the spirits that we were in the preexistence? That’s very profound to me. Will we see things in such a different
light? Will we rejoice in the beauty of individuality
and uniqueness, or will we be a bunch of cookie cutters? I don’t believe we will be the latter. It touches my heart to think of the time and
effort and explicit thought and time Heavenly Father put into each of us when
he created us. Is it an insult to our
Father in Heaven when cover up our authenticity and judge and snicker at
others?
