Reading Response 19

In terms of Madison, 2012, Chapter 7: Performance, what is the value of understanding ethnography through a performance paradigm?

If we are looking at a specific group of people and attempting to describe or analyze their way of life, we cannot overlook performance. A critical ethnographer will not simply leave out this part of the human experience, because it is a piece of the cultural puzzle. Performing allows us to reflect on our beliefs, ideals, and the things we value as a culture. It allows for expression without boundaries. Often in a performance piece, the person is able to express his or her self more than in their every day life due to sociocultural constraints. As a musician, I understand the importance of performance for life. When I am not performing music for others, I feel incomplete. It is a huge part of me and until someone has heard me play my violin, I feel like they don't really know me. A friend of mine heard me play a few weeks ago for the first time, and he was surprised that I had never mentioned that I play music. It made me laugh as it is not the same to tell someone you play music as it is to play music for them. Music allows me to express emotion without feeling judged or innappropriate. When looking at a culture, performance is key to understanding the members that make up that culture.