Practice question · Multiple choice
Barth argued that what persists in an ethnic group is the boundary, not the cultural contents. What observation forced that inversion?
Hints
- A group changes its language and still counts itself the same group. Ask what stayed constant.
- If the contents can all be replaced, what is being conserved?
Show the answer
C. Groups stay sharp while their cultural contents change wholly
Why
Everything inside the container can be swapped out and the container persists, so identity lives in the maintained us/them line rather than in a checklist of traits. It explains why the most emphasised markers are often trivial, a boundary needs a signal, and any signal will do.
Practise Ethnicity and Identity
The app has 6 more questions on this lesson, and keeps your place in the course. History I is free to start.
More questions on Ethnicity and Identity
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