Transcript “The Tzotzil Maya Cultural System and Efforts to Maintain it in the

“The Tzotzil Maya Cultural
System and Efforts to Maintain
st
it in the 21 Century”
M.A.Thesis project of Chamula, Chiapas
by M. Leonor Monreal,
CSUF Anthropology Department
“The Tzotzil Maya Cultural System and
Efforts to Maintain it in the 21st Century”
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What is the Tzotzil cultural system?
How has this group maintained their
cultural system over the years? How
has the culture changed?
In 21st century, how is globalization
affecting this cultural group?
Is their survival important to
humanity? Why? How is it relevant
to cultural anthropology?
Theoretical Frameworks
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Cultural Materialism- The locus of causality in sociocultural
systems. Where the main force of sociocultural selection emanates,
from the infrastructure, the structure or the superstructure of the
system (Harris,1999:1411). The goal is to study a cultural group as
a system where one aspect affects the other, interrelated,
independently and dependently of one another.
Cultural Relativism- ethnography as a “text” having various
interpretations, depending on the cultural lenses of the receiver.
Life as a constant interplay, a kind of conflict between symbols
that define reality and guide behavior “hard surfaces of reality”
which in turn exert strong pressure on social practices and the
symbols expressed (Geertz, 1973:142).
Globalization theories- spread of capitalism in Latin America,
“integrating the world economy in key production and investment
sites” (Nash, 2002:3)
Methods Employed
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Ethnographic Fieldwork
 Participant observations
 Key informants
 Interviews
Library and foreign research
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Mexican governmental records (Census, SEP, Agriculture
department, etc.)
Scientific journals and works by anthropologists experts in
this field (such as Vogt, Coe, Nash,Gossen, etc.)
Newspaper and internet sources (mainly for EZLN info.)
Chapter 1 Historical Overview
of the Tzotzil
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Origins of Maya
civilization: a
historical
perspective.
Anthropological
investigations of
ethnic Maya groups.
The Tzotzil of
Chamula.
Chapter 2 “Indigenismo” Identity
Formation of the Tzotzil in Modern
Mexico
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Indigenous Nucleus in
the Highlands of Chiapas
The Indigenous
Community
Indigenous Cultural
Identity “Indigenismo”
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Social customs
Medical practices
“curanderia”
Chapter 3 Chamula Tzotzil Social
Relations
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Social Relations in
Chamula
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Living Arrangements
in Chamula
Gender Relations:
Courtship & Marriage
Chamula Youth &
Elderly
The Cargo System of
Chamula Tzotzil.
Chapter 4 Chamula Economy &
the Effects of Globalization
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Socio-economic
Practices in Chamula
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Chamula Land Tenure
Tzotzil and their Sheep
The Market and
Touristic Economy
Chapter 5 Religious Elements in
Chamula
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Religion, identity and
rebellion
Current components
of catholic pluralism
Non-catholic
religious groups
The expelled Tzotzil
of San Juan Chamula
Religious
Beliefs
Chapter 6 Rebellion & Uprising in
Chiapas
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National Liberation
Zapatista Army
(EZLN)
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Who are the
Zapatistas?
The Insurgent Figure
The Role of Women
Chapter 7 The Education Structure &
Influence of the Zapatista Movement
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Overview of the Elementary Educational System
in Chiapas.
Educational System of Indigenous People in the
Highlands of Chiapas.
Social Challenges
Academic Challenges
Importance of Bilingualism
and Biculturalism.
Conclusion
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Importance of the
Four-Field Approach
Study Group
“Chamulas”
Globalization
influences
Challenge to
anthropologists
References Cited
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Geertz, Clifford
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Harris, Marvin
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1973 The interpretation of cultures. New York: Basic
Books.
1999 Theories of culture in postmodern
times.California: AltaMira Press
Nash, June
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2001 Mayan Visions, the quest for autonomy in an
age of globalization. New York: Routledge
To be continued…