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WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?
EMPHASIS ON CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Cultural Anthropology, Lecture 1Dr. Martin
LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Develop an understanding of anthropology and how the subfields of anthropology interrelate
2. Distinguish between cultural anthropology and the other subfields of anthropology
3. Develop an understanding for the importance of anthropology, particularly cultural anthropology, in today’s world
4. Practice thinking like an anthropologist.
ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthro= human
Ology= the study of…
The study of the past and present biological and cultural variation within the human species
Major question addressed within anthropology:
What Does It Mean To Be Human?
ANTHROPOLOGY
1. HolisticEmphasizes the functional relation between parts and the whole
No single aspect of culture can be understood alone
Integration of all that is known about humans and their activities
DISTINCTIVE WAY OF STUDYING HUMANS
Holism=Integratio
n
Past Present
Language Culture
GeneticsAnatomy
DISTINCTIVE WAY OF STUDYING HUMANS
2. ComparativeCompare patterns of variationConsideration of similarities & differencesDraw comparison
Anthropology also includes the cross-cultural & relativistic perspective to comparisonWhat does these perspective mean for anthropological studies?Compare objectively without making value judgments
Look at culture in its own context
2. Comparative & Cross-Cultural Perspective
DISTINCTIVE WAY OF STUDYING HUMANS
Coming of Age CeremoniesLeft: Korean; Right: Maasi (Kenya)
Skeletal FeaturesLeft: Chimpanzee;
Right: Modern Human
3. Field-basedData collection; direct contact
DISTINCTIVE WAY OF STUDYING HUMANS
The Cultural Implications
of International Migration in the Light of Fieldwork Evidence
Education and
Identity in Rural
France: The Politics of Schooling
4. EvolutionaryObservations placed in temporal frameworkConsider change over time
How does this perspective apply to cultural anthropology?Cultural evolution – 19th century, considered an outgrowth of Darwinian evolution
Over time, cultural change occurs as a result of humans adapting to some non-cultural stimulus
DISTINCTIVE WAY OF STUDYING HUMANS
What is culture?Set of learned behavior and ideas that humans beings acquire as members of a society
Humans are biocultural organisms What does this mean?
Triangle of AdaptationBiological and cultural factorsinfluence the world around us
CULTURAL AND HUMANS
Environment
CultureBiology
Spans the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities
Diversity with the discipline : 4 subfieldsBiological (Physical) AnthropologyCultural AnthropologyLinguistic AnthropologyArchaeology
ANTHROPOLOGY: CROSS-DISCIPLINARY
Holistic
AppliedAnthropology
FIGURE 1.1 The subfields of anthropology Copyright © 2008 by Robert H. Lavenda and Emily A. Schultz.
Purpose: Describe, analyze, interpret, and explain social and cultural similarities and differences of living human cultures in all parts of the world
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Objectives of Cultural AnthropologyWhat are the behavioral characteristics of the human species?
Understand how all aspects of culture function as a whole.
Study how cultures change over time
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Traditionally, non-western
cultures.
Today, a wider focus including segments of Western Society
Variation in beliefs and behaviors of members of different human groups Shaped by sets of learned behaviors and ideas that human beings acquire as members of society
Study all human societiesUrban & Rural, Developed & Developing,
Western & Non-Western
Conduct fieldworkParticipant observationEthnography
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
• Cultural conflict – war, ethnicity, politics, aftermath of conflict
• Subsistence patterns – strategies, land ownership, environment
What Can It Tell Us?
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY RESEARCH
• Social organization – comparison of different forms of human social life, kinship patterns, social groupings
What Can It Tell Us?
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY RESEARCH
SUMMARY - ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology: Integrated, scientific, and holistic study of human cultural and biological variation
Humans are biocultural organisms
Biology and culture are interdependentHuman biology makes culture possible- human culture makes human biological survival possible
SUMMARY – CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY Sub-discipline of anthropology
Studies all human societies
Examines a wide-range of topics including but not limited to:Economics & Exchange Religion & WorldviewGlobalizationMigration Subsistence PatternsMarriage & FamilyPolitics & Government
FREE-WRITE JAN 8, 2014
United Nations established Millennium Development Goals focusing on a wide range of topics includingFood security & sustainable food futureHalting the spread of infectious diseasesUniversal primary educationPreventing under-five mortalityWater sanitation and access to water
Based off of what we learned today, briefly discuss how cultural anthropology research may help the United Nations and their partners achieve one of these goals.
IN-CLASS ACTIVITY Research in Cultural Anthropology Worksheet
In this activity, students will:Using areas of research interest, identify possible research questions / themes
We will do one example as a class The other three examples will be worked on in small-groups. Be prepared to share your responses with the class.
Cultural Anthropology
Cultural definition of family
Marriage patterns
Individual & group roles
One’s placement in worldCultural group’s placement in world
Interaction with environment
Sex differencesPerception of health
Geographical access to health
Usage of environmentAnimals or plants not
consumed
Parts of animal consumedHealth & Culture
Subsistence Patterns
Worldview
Family