This week we discussed the standpoint theory. The standpoint
theory says that if you really want to understand something you have to emmerse
yourself within your studies. The study cannot be completely objective because
they you are just observing and only getting “thin” research. As sociologist,
we are people studying people. We are always someone connected to our studies,
so we must be involved in order to fully understand the subject. Instead of
viewing, we must be experiencing. Dorothy Smith says that we need to make a
transition from an objective and unattached observer approach and really start
to be apart of studies.
I feel like this is almost so obvious that it’s complicated.
All the standpoint theory is really saying is: take a closer look. Maybe we are
judging our studies by what it looks like from the outside. Or, better yet,
judging a book by its cover? When we really need to immerse ourselves into the
book to understand and appreciate its full contents.
http://teacherdavid.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/subjectivity.gif
This picture that I include really expresses this idea of
objectivity. This painter is just sitting back and observing this city scene
and painting it for what it is at face value. But if you take a closer look the
painter’s canvas does not match he is actually observing. I used to be an art
major here at point and this is a common mistake I made. Sometimes I would draw
what I think I saw instead of what was actually right infront of me. Without
having a connection to the city the man cannot express how it actually appears.
The city is unique, beautiful, and crazy, but the man does not get to
appreciate and understand this and so his findings end up being bleak. I would
predict that if the man was sitting in the middle of the city while painting,
his artwork would come alive.
I think that you did a great job summarizing the Standpoint Theory. I agree that, while we have to be objective, we cannot be too objective. We have to respect people for who they are, but to do that, we need to understand more about them. Relating art to this approach was perfect. I believe that it, along with your own input, perfectly illustrates the difference between creating one's own picture, or view, of something while being too far from it and while being immersed in it. My questions for you are, what are the positive changes that we can help to create for those who are being studied that are suffering? How can we encourage others to interact with others before making too many judgments about them?
ReplyDeleteNice connection mentioning that you used to be too objective as an art major, not getting as in depth into a subject as you should have. It's an interesting idea and one that I wouldn't have considered. I do think it's possible to be too objective in research, but it's also easy to get too involved. The line is thin between too much and too little. How do you think a researcher can be involved enough but at the same time be objective?
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