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Summary Of Number Our Days By Barbara Myerhoff

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In the film Number Our Days, Barbara Myerhoff studies a community of elderly Jews in Venice, CA. This ethnography contrasts much of Myerhoff’s earlier work and the work of many anthropologists as she studies members of her own ethnic group. This raises some interesting points since Myerhoff is not fully an “outsider” of their community. The audience likely received more information from the interviewees because Myerhoff had a greater instant rapport with them and was able to gain their trust. Furthermore, the tone of the film was made more personable as she tried to find her own identity and sense of belonging throughout her fieldwork. Nonetheless, since she was already a member of the community, she needed to acknowledge her previous bias and beliefs before starting her work in order to maintain the film’s objectivity. Myerhoff …show more content…

Throughout the film, the residents emphasize their relationship with their Jewish culture. For these people, being Jewish is not simply about religiosity – rather, their culture serves to find a community of similar people in their old age. The community center serves as a physical gathering space for the residents to experience shared Jewish rituals, stories, and performances. Although these people may not know each other intimately, they are brought together by their culture, music, and traditions. Additionally, a principal theme of the film regards the elderly people’s experience with aging. In their old age, the residents had a greater acceptance of death – partially sculpted by their Jewish

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