This document discusses the anthropological concept of "thick description" developed by American anthropologist Clifford Geertz. Thick description involves interpreting observed behaviors, objects, and events by examining the cultural meanings, symbols, and context behind them. This is contrasted with "thin description" which only describes observable behaviors without considering cultural meaning. The document provides examples to illustrate thick versus thin description and outlines Geertz's four parameters of interpretive anthropology which focuses on the flow of social discourse, extroverted cultural expressions, and microscopic ethnographic descriptions.

1. Thick Description: Toward
an Interpretive Theory of
Culture

2. Geertz was an American
anthropologist.
• Culture is public.
• Thick description
• Thin description

3. Thick description is,
• Semiotic term
• Public act
• Various sign and symbols
• Pre-ascribed cultural
meaning

4. • Wink of an eye
• Eye twitch

5. Thin description is,
• only behavior
• without interpretation
• For examle; wink is a
contraction of the eyelid.

6. Thin
description
• In India
culture, cow is
sacred.
• In Turkish
culture, cow is
animal for only
produce milk.

7. • Amulet in Turkish
culture

8. Thick
description

9. The four parameters Geertz,
1- Interpretative study.
2- The subject of interpretation is
the flow social discourse.
3- Interpretation deals with
extrovert expressions.
4- Ethnographic description is
microscopic.

10. • Gilbert Ryle was a
British philosopher.
• “Le Penseur”
(thinking of men)
• Thinking and
Reflecting
• The Thinking of

11. Thanks for
listening
• Tansu DEMIROK
• Melek Nur AYDIN