Germaine Dieterlen
Encyclopedia
Germaine Dieterlen was a French anthropologist. She was a student of Marcel Mauss
and wrote on a large range of ethnographic topics and made pioneering contributions to the study of myths
, initiation
s, techniques (particularly "descriptive ethnography"), graphic systems, objects, classifications, ritual
and social structure
.
She is most noted for her work among the Dogon
and the Bambara of Mali
, having lived with them for over twenty years, often in collaboration with noted French anthropologist Marcel Griaule
(1898-1956).
, relationships between maternal uncles and nephews, division of labor, marriage
, and the status of the rainmaker in Dogon society. Because each episode of the rite is enacted only once every sixty years, Dieterlen's documentation of the sigui cycle allowed the Dogon themselves to see and interpret the entire sequence of rites which they had heretofore only observed in part.
, Mali in 1941. Perhaps most controversially, Dieterlen was criticized by her peers for her publications with Griaule on Dogon astronomy
, which professed an ancient knowledge of the existence of a dwarf white star
, Sirius B also called the Dog Star
, invisible to the naked eye. This ancient indigenous
knowledge (the Nommo
) and the supposition that extraterrestrials might have been in contact with the Dogon was popularized by Robert K. G. Temple
in his book The Sirius Mystery (1976) and Tom Robbins
Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas (1995). Dutch anthropologist W.E.A. van Beek, who spent seven years with the Dogon, seriously critiqued the research methods of Griaule and Dieterlen, suggesting, based on a conceived scenario presented by Brecher and Sagan, that they relied heavily on one primary informant who may have been influenced by the teachings of a Jesuit missionary who may have lived in the region prior to their arrival (Dogon Restudied 1991). He accuses Griaule of misinterpreting and influencing results. However, daughter and colleague of Marcel Griaule, Genevieve Calame-Griaule, came to defend the project, dismissing van Beek's criticism as misguided speculation and being rooted in an apparent ignorance of esoteric tradition. In addition, skeptic and space journalist, James Oberg
in his investigation of the Dogon mystery, found no substantial evidence that would indicate outside influence, and sees such proposed scenarios as being "entirely circumstantial".
in Paris
, a founding member of the Centre National de la Recherché Scientifique
(CNRS), and a President of the Committee on Ethnographic Film (founded by Jean Rouch
, with whom she worked and made important ethnographic film
s). An "hommage" collection published in 1978 (Systèmes de signes: Textes réunis en hommage à Germaine Dieterlen) included essays by Meyer Fortes
and Claude Lévi-Strauss
. Dieterlen also worked with other noted ethnographic filmmakers like Griaule. Mary Douglas
reviewed the contributions made by Dieterlen to French anthropology in Dogon Culture - Profane and Arcane (1968) and If the Dogon . . . (1975).
Marcel Mauss
Marcel Mauss was a French sociologist. The nephew of Émile Durkheim, Mauss' academic work traversed the boundaries between sociology and anthropology...
and wrote on a large range of ethnographic topics and made pioneering contributions to the study of myths
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
, initiation
Initiation
Initiation is a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components...
s, techniques (particularly "descriptive ethnography"), graphic systems, objects, classifications, ritual
Ritual
A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
and social structure
Social structure
Social structure is a term used in the social sciences to refer to patterned social arrangements in society that are both emergent from and determinant of the actions of the individuals. The usage of the term "social structure" has changed over time and may reflect the various levels of analysis...
.
She is most noted for her work among the Dogon
Dogon people
The Dogon are an ethnic group living in the central plateau region of Mali, south of the Niger bend near the city of Bandiagara in the Mopti region. The population numbers between 400,000 and 800,000 The Dogon are best known for their religious traditions, their mask dances, wooden sculpture and...
and the Bambara of Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, having lived with them for over twenty years, often in collaboration with noted French anthropologist Marcel Griaule
Marcel Griaule
Marcel Griaule was a French anthropologist known for his studies of the Dogon people of West Africa, and for pioneering ethnographic field studies in France....
(1898-1956).
Themes
Some of the main themes in her work concentrate on the notions of sacred kingship, the position of the first bornFirst Born
First Born is a British television serial produced by the BBC in 1988.Charles Dance starred as genetic researcher Edward Forester, whose work leads him to create a man-gorilla hybrid, using his own sperm and cells taken from a female gorilla...
, relationships between maternal uncles and nephews, division of labor, marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
, and the status of the rainmaker in Dogon society. Because each episode of the rite is enacted only once every sixty years, Dieterlen's documentation of the sigui cycle allowed the Dogon themselves to see and interpret the entire sequence of rites which they had heretofore only observed in part.
Research
Dieterlen began her ethnographic research in BandiagaraBandiagara
Bandiagara is a city in the Dogon region of Mali in Africa. The name translates roughly to "large eating bowl"—referring to the communal bowl meals are served in....
, Mali in 1941. Perhaps most controversially, Dieterlen was criticized by her peers for her publications with Griaule on Dogon astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, which professed an ancient knowledge of the existence of a dwarf white star
White Star
The White Star is a fictional, cruiser class combat spacecraft type in the science fiction television series Babylon 5.- Depiction :The White Star-class was designed and built through a collaborative effort between the Minbari religious caste and the Vorlon Empire...
, Sirius B also called the Dog Star
Dog Star
Dog Star or Dogstar may refer to:* A common name for Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky* Dogstar , a rock group including Keanu Reeves* Dogstar , an animated Australian TV series...
, invisible to the naked eye. This ancient indigenous
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
knowledge (the Nommo
Nommo
The Nommo are ancestral spirits worshipped by the Dogon tribe of Mali. The word Nommos is derived from a Dogon word meaning, "to make one drink," The Nommos are usually described as amphibious, hermaphroditic, fish-like creatures...
) and the supposition that extraterrestrials might have been in contact with the Dogon was popularized by Robert K. G. Temple
Robert K. G. Temple
Robert K. G. Temple is an American author best known for his controversial book, The Sirius Mystery which presents the idea that the Dogon people preserve the tradition of contact with intelligent extraterrestrial beings from the Sirius star-system...
in his book The Sirius Mystery (1976) and Tom Robbins
Tom Robbins
Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins (born July 22, 1936 is an American author. His best-selling novels are serio-comic, often wildly poetic stories with a strong social and philosophical undercurrent, an irreverent bent, and scenes extrapolated from...
Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas (1995). Dutch anthropologist W.E.A. van Beek, who spent seven years with the Dogon, seriously critiqued the research methods of Griaule and Dieterlen, suggesting, based on a conceived scenario presented by Brecher and Sagan, that they relied heavily on one primary informant who may have been influenced by the teachings of a Jesuit missionary who may have lived in the region prior to their arrival (Dogon Restudied 1991). He accuses Griaule of misinterpreting and influencing results. However, daughter and colleague of Marcel Griaule, Genevieve Calame-Griaule, came to defend the project, dismissing van Beek's criticism as misguided speculation and being rooted in an apparent ignorance of esoteric tradition. In addition, skeptic and space journalist, James Oberg
James Oberg
James Edward Oberg is an American space journalist and historian, regarded as an expert on the Russian space program.-Biography:...
in his investigation of the Dogon mystery, found no substantial evidence that would indicate outside influence, and sees such proposed scenarios as being "entirely circumstantial".
Academic career
Dieterlen also served as a Director of Studies at Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes at the SorbonneUniversity of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, a founding member of the Centre National de la Recherché Scientifique
Centre national de la recherche scientifique
The National Center of Scientific Research is the largest governmental research organization in France and the largest fundamental science agency in Europe....
(CNRS), and a President of the Committee on Ethnographic Film (founded by Jean Rouch
Jean Rouch
Jean Rouch was a French filmmaker and anthropologist.He is considered to be one of the founders of the cinéma vérité in France, which shared the aesthetics of the direct cinema spearheaded by Richard Leacock, D.A. Pennebaker and Albert and David Maysles...
, with whom she worked and made important ethnographic film
Ethnographic film
An ethnographic film is a documentary film related to the methods of ethnology. It emerged in the 1960s as an important tool for research in the domain of visual anthropology, when filming human groups in society...
s). An "hommage" collection published in 1978 (Systèmes de signes: Textes réunis en hommage à Germaine Dieterlen) included essays by Meyer Fortes
Meyer Fortes
Meyer Fortes was a South African-born anthropologist, best known for his work among the Tallensi and Ashanti in Ghana.Originally trained in psychology, Fortes employed the notion of the "person" into his structural-functional analyses of kinship, the family, and ancestor worship setting a standard...
and Claude Lévi-Strauss
Claude Lévi-Strauss
Claude Lévi-Strauss was a French anthropologist and ethnologist, and has been called, along with James George Frazer, the "father of modern anthropology"....
. Dieterlen also worked with other noted ethnographic filmmakers like Griaule. Mary Douglas
Mary Douglas
Dame Mary Douglas, DBE, FBA was a British anthropologist, known for her writings on human culture and symbolism....
reviewed the contributions made by Dieterlen to French anthropology in Dogon Culture - Profane and Arcane (1968) and If the Dogon . . . (1975).