Publication: La mirada antropológica de E.P. Thompson
Authors
Gómez Garrido, María
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Publisher
Murcia : Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Sociología y Trabajo Social
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Las aportaciones de Edward Palmer Thompson a la historia social y la teoría
política son tan numerosas como las corrientes que combatió, apoyándose
siempre en un minucioso trabajo de investigación. En este texto me propongo
rescatar su mirada antropológica. De ella destaca la prioridad concedida a la
experiencia de los sujetos históricos, tal y como ellos mismos la vivieron y
expresaron. Thompson comparte con Dilthey y la antropología interpretativa y
de la experiencia una conceptualización de ésta como suceso vivido que adquiere
significado al ser interpretado a través de unos marcos culturales comunes. Es así
que Thompson rescata tradiciones populares que remiten a nociones de justicia,
pero también memorias colectivas desde la que se interpretaron las vidas
cambiantes de aquellos grupos que, en los albores de la industrialización, se
fueron constituyendo en un nuevo sujeto colectivo – la clase obrera. Experiencia
supone además la inclusión de los deseos y sentimientos, no sólo los
pensamientos. No es posible concebir la configuración del “interés” de la clase
obrera sin comprender antes sus sentimientos de agravio frente a otras clases.
Finalmente, la mirada antropológica de Thompson pone acento en la idea de
proceso. Sus densas descripciones irritaron a sociólogos como Bendix. Su forma
narrativa, sin embargo, nos ayuda a comprender la complejidad de cualquier
acontecimiento histórico, al tiempo que arroja luz sobre problemas teóricos tan difíciles como la constitución de un nuevo sujeto colectivo. Probablemente pudo
emprender esta complicada tarea porque, más allá de las disquisiciones
académicas, le movía una profunda pasión y respeto hacia los protagonistas de su
estudio.
ABSTRACT Edward Palmer Thompson’s contribution to social history and political theory is as wide as are the many intellectual trends that he combatted, always on the basis of a thorough research work. The purpose of this text is to rescue his anthropological gaze, characterized above all by the priority given to the historical subjects’ experience, in the ways that they lived it and expressed it. Thompson shares with Dilthey and with interpretive anthropology, as well as with the anthropology of experience, a conceptualisation of this as the flux of what is lived and which acquires meaning by its interpretation according to shared cultural frames. That is how Thompson rescues popular traditions that refer to notions of justice, but also collective memories from which the changing lives of all those groups that, in the beginnings of industrialisation constituted a new subject -the working-class- were interpreted. Experience implies the inclusion of desires and feelings, not only thoughts. It is not possible to conceive the formation of the working-class “interest” without previously understanding the grievance felt that placed it in opposition to other classes. Finally, Thompson’s anthropological gaze puts the accent on the idea of process. His thick descriptions irritated sociologists like Bendix. His narrative form, however, helps us to understand the complexity of any historical event, at the same time that it sheds light on theoretical problems as difficult as the constitution of a new collective subject. He probably managed to accomplish this task because, beyond academic digressions, he was moved by a deep passion and respect towards the protagonists of his research work.
ABSTRACT Edward Palmer Thompson’s contribution to social history and political theory is as wide as are the many intellectual trends that he combatted, always on the basis of a thorough research work. The purpose of this text is to rescue his anthropological gaze, characterized above all by the priority given to the historical subjects’ experience, in the ways that they lived it and expressed it. Thompson shares with Dilthey and with interpretive anthropology, as well as with the anthropology of experience, a conceptualisation of this as the flux of what is lived and which acquires meaning by its interpretation according to shared cultural frames. That is how Thompson rescues popular traditions that refer to notions of justice, but also collective memories from which the changing lives of all those groups that, in the beginnings of industrialisation constituted a new subject -the working-class- were interpreted. Experience implies the inclusion of desires and feelings, not only thoughts. It is not possible to conceive the formation of the working-class “interest” without previously understanding the grievance felt that placed it in opposition to other classes. Finally, Thompson’s anthropological gaze puts the accent on the idea of process. His thick descriptions irritated sociologists like Bendix. His narrative form, however, helps us to understand the complexity of any historical event, at the same time that it sheds light on theoretical problems as difficult as the constitution of a new collective subject. He probably managed to accomplish this task because, beyond academic digressions, he was moved by a deep passion and respect towards the protagonists of his research work.
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