VII. Symbolic or Interpretive Anthropology

Symbolic anthropology studies symbols and the processes by which humans assign meanings to these symbols in order to address fundamental questions about human social life.

Symbolic or interpretive anthropology views culture as an independent system of meaning deciphered by interpreting key symbols and rituals. There are two theories that dictate symbolic anthropology. The first is that "beliefs, however unintelligible, become comprehensible when understood as part of a cultural system of meaning". The second major premise is that actions are guided by interpretation, allowing symbolism to aid in interpreting ideal as well as material activities. Traditionally symbolic anthropology has focused on religion, cosmology, ritual activity, and expressive customs such as mythology and the performing arts. Symbolic anthropologists also study other forms of social organization that at first do not appear to be very symbolic, such as kinship and political organization. Studying these types of social forms allows researchers to study the role of symbols in the everyday life of a group of people.

Additionally, there are two different approaches to symbolic anthropology. One is associated with Clifford Geertz, while the other is associated with Victor W. Turner. The differences between these two approaches lied in their individual influences. Geertz was influenced largely by the sociologist Max Weber, and was concerned with the operations of "culture" and not with the ways in which symbols operate in the social process. Turner was influenced by Emile Durkheim and was concerned with the operations of "society" and the ways in which symbols operate within it.