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- Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology is the study of symbols in their social and cultural context, which was brought about in the 1960s and progressed through the 1970s.
- These symbols are generally publicly shared and recognized by many and could be words, customs, or rituals. Symbolic Anthropologists describe and interpret symbolic meaning in emic terms meaning that they interpret the symbols in the context of the culture that they are studying.
- A symbolic anthropologist believes that culture can be found in the public performance of symbolic systems and that there is generally a response to these symbols. Thus symbolic anthropology was created in contrast to structuralism.
- Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology states that symbols are learned and shared. This means that most symbols can be recognized by the people in that culture and often by people in other cultures.
- It also states that symbols are vehicles of culture, meaning they hold cultural meaning and significance.
- Symbols also transmit meaning and communicate ways that people should view the world and feel about the world.