×

Rethinking symmetry in ethnomathematics. (English) Zbl 1202.01008

Summary: The use of crystallography classifications for symmetries, in particular of the seven possible symmetry classes for repeating strip/frieze patterns using rigid motions of the plane (reflection, rotation, and translation) has been a persistent element in ethnomathematics. Popularized in Crowe’s chapter in C. Zaslavsky’s “African Counts! Number and pattern in African culture.” (1973), 3rd ed. (1999; Zbl 1202.01016 and ME 1999f.03615), and later in D. W. Crowe and D. Washburn’s “Symmetries of Culture: Theory and practice of plane pattern analysis.” Seattle: Univ. Washington Press (1988; Zbl 1202.01004), this has become a standard activity in ethnomathematics. But it bears a curious relationship to the fundamental concept of ethnomathematics as a discipline. Here I will briefly discuss the nature of this relationship, and some directions that might lead to alternative frameworks.

MSC:

01A07 Ethnomathematics (general)
PDFBibTeX XMLCite