Response Essay to Argonauts of the Western Pacific and Hummus Is Best When It Is Fresh and Made by Arabs

Response to Malinowski

In the Argonauts of western Pacific, Bronislaw argues that ethnographies should follow a systematic approach to make the deductive conclusion that base of the consistent findings. According to him, ethnographies should present research finding and discussions beyond a reasonable doubt by systematically illustrating the whole process of research. Sufficient information needs to be given to clarify conflicting ideas regarding methodology (Malinowski, p.2). Bronislaw critiques most of the anthropological study works as a compilation of generalized ideas and subjective.

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Bronislaw also argues that at the preliminary stage of collecting and recording primary and secondary information, it is necessary for an ethnographer to dwell on concrete details only. After obtaining reliable information, the presentation of facts should be consistent and precise to avoid giving a junk of invaluable information. More so, an ethnographer needs to be objective in making observation and carrying out surveys to mitigate tendency of generalization. Following scientific standards in carrying out research requires a researcher to identify methods of data collection and research design to create a systematic layout of the entire study, however, an excellent researcher is that who is independent in making a judgment regarding the information collected (Malinowski, p.5).

Anthropology needs to make an inquiry social, political, economic and technological aspects affecting humankind. Therefore, failure to cover all these aspects underpins the role of an ethnographer to create extensive research about a given phenomenon (Malinowski, p.9). More so, a scientific, anthropological study observes the set standards of practice both in social and cultural institutions to preserve the extended existing norms and regulations. It is essential therefore to make advance inquiry into the social and cultural order of carrying out specific investigations. Consequently, the native population will be free to give a handful of information (Malinowski, p.10). Thus, anthropology as science makes an inquiry into the reality of issues

From his experience in the field work, Malinowski actively participated in the rituals and other cultural practices carried out by the natives as the only way of getting credible information about his inquiry. To him, overcoming the problem of cultural barrier and language diversity in the field work, Malinowski show empathy to create trust between him and the natives. It is through his participation in the native cultural practices and rituals that he establishes the scientific validity of the information collected. For example, Malinowski says that "Pidgin-English" is complex while explaining ideas hence, a barrier in exchanging information (Malinowski, p.4).

Besides establishing a healthy relationship in the field work, Malinowski uses various rhetorical devices to create scientific validity of ethnographies. For instance. He uses rhetorical questions to make an inquiry into the lifestyle of the native communities. For example, ".....the true picture of tribal life?" (Malinowski, p.5). Malinowski intentionally uses this question to invoke the natives' real spirit and magic. Another example of a rhetorical question is "What does this latter mean?" (Malinowski, p. 6), he uses this question to make an inquiry into the need to establish a cordial relationship with the natives.

Hummus Response

Hummus theoretical explanation reveals identity affiliation associated eating a specific type of food. Since Hummus is a favorite food among the Israelis and the way they eat through wiping is unique from other eating habits in a different nation like Palestine dipping, it creates a distinction in social class and gender differences. It is through food habits that people realize their national belongingness. Arab cooking habits during the WWII was preferred as the best cooking style over that of the Jewish (Hirsh, p.618). However, it is interesting to realize that colonizers' national identities tend to follow the native's cultural practices. The national identity fact is that our identities influence the cultural traditions of our colonizers. In this case, Israelis tried to embody the Arabs native way of life to enable them to understand the relationship between them and the Arabs, establishing a sense of belongingness.

Hummus affects our understanding of our national identities because it shows the fundamentals that form our national identities. The uniqueness of every nation lies in their cultural practices such as eating habits, staple food and dressing code. For instance, governments colonized by the European countries follow the cultural traditions of the European nations (Hirsh, p.620). It is also through shared cooking and eating habits that people come together to form a country. Historically, ethnic groups that were marginalized identified themselves with unique food and cooking habit such as the Mizrahi identity. It is important to recognize that Hummus paled a significant role in describing the politics and social relations between the Jews and the Arabs. From the Hummus description and movement along different identity groups, it is factual that each identity has its unique cultural practices different from other national identities. However, the dominant culture, in this case, suppressed other culture leading suppression and resurgence of new identities.

If Hummus could have been described as an index, then the Arab identities and their cultural practices could have surpassed the invasion of Israel into the Arab lands. Arabs as the native community was a rich source of Hummus food; they knew the best way to prepare and serve it more than the Israelis. In this case, they had more information and expertise about hummus. However, regarding the formation of national identities, the hummus could have remained as the unifying factor between Arabs and Jews. However, the Jews could be marginalized because they could be the minority groups in the popular Arab culture (Hirsh, p.624). The identity of Arab could stand strong overcoming the political, ideological differences and a long history of the political struggle between Arabs and Jews.

Work Cited

Hirsh, Dafna. "Hummus is best when it is fresh and made by Arabs." American Ethnologist 38.4 (2011): 617-630.

Malinowski, Bronislaw. Argonauts of the Western Pacific: An account of native enterprise and adventure in the archipelagoes of Melanesian New Guinea. Routledge, 2002.