Ethno-Aesthetics

            Ethno-aesthetics can be defined as a regional, local, or indigenous beliefs expressed artistically through various mediums including, but not limited to, the ritualistic or the ceremonial purposes of that society or group of people.  Ethno-aesthetic analysis is trying to uncover specific cultural and social traits from that group of people.  It can be analogous to conducting an ethnography.  The medium of interpretation is through a dramatically smaller lens, and the conclusions drawn cannot begin to express the complexities of the culture, but it can gain some knowledge and understanding through the mediums analyzed.  Ethno-aesthetics encompasses a wide array of activities and mediums of expression.  It could be ceremonial, ritualistic, celebratory, painting, song, dance, sculpture, and many other mediums.  The purpose is to gain some sort of understanding about the cultural and ethnic expression through the medium being utilized by that group of people.  The largest hazard of this form of analysis is that is through such a small lens and does not generally encompass the whole of the culture or society.  The analyzer is only subjected to a miniscule portion of that culture; the preverbal tip of the iceberg.  This limited analysis cannot possibly gain a holistic view of the culture that is aesthetically expressing their cultural values. 

            The implications of globalization and hybridization in ethno-aesthetics are pretty prevalent.  La dia de los muertos is an excellent example of globalizations effects creating a hybridization of cultural values and expression of those values.  The day of the dead is a great example of this because of the connection between catholic colonist view combined with indigenous aspects of Mexican culture, specifically Aztec.  The day of the dead is a celebratory expression of hybridization in ethno-aesthetics.