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WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?:Cultural Anthropology, Internet Resources

THE CONCEPT OF CULTURE AND THE APPLICATION OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY >>
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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
Lesson 01
WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?
Anthropology can be best defined as the study of the various facets of what it means to be human.
Anthropology is a multidimensional subject in which various components are studied individually and as a
whole to develop a better understanding of human existence. In this lecture we will not only be developing
an understanding of the definition of anthropology, we will also be looking at what an anthropologist does.
In addition to this we will also be looking at the various branches of anthropology with a focus on cultural
anthropology.
Definition of Anthropology
Anthropology is derived from the Greek words anthropos for human and logos for study, so if we take its
literal meaning it would mean the study of humans. In one sense this is an accurate description to the extent
that it raises a wide variety of questions about the human existence. However this literal definition isn't as
accurate as it should be since a number of other disciplines such as sociology, history, psychology,
economics and many others also study human beings.
What sets anthropology apart from all these other subjects? Anthropology is the study of people, their
origins, their development, and variations, wherever and whenever they have been found on the face of the
earth. Of all the subjects that deal with the study of humans, anthropology is by far the broadest in its
scope. In short anthropology aims to describe, in the broadest sense, what it means to be human.
Activities of an Anthropologist
As we already know, anthropology is the study of what it means to be human. So the study of the influences
that make us human is the focus of anthropologists. Anthropologists study the various components of what
its means to be human.
Branches of Anthropology
A
Physical Anthropology ­ Is the study of humans from a biological perspective.
Essentially this involves two broad areas of investigation.
Human paleontology -: this sub branch deals with re-constructing the evolutionary record of the
a.
human existence and how humans evolved up to the present times.
b. Human variation -: The second area deals with how/ why the physical traits of contemporary
human populations vary across the world.
B
Archeology ­ study of lives of people from the past by examining the material culture they have
left behind
C
Anthropological Linguistics ­ the study of human speech and language
D
Cultural Anthropology ­ the study of cultural differences and similarities around the world
Now that we have briefly defined the various branches of anthropology, lets us now take an in-depth view
of cultural anthropology.
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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
Cultural Anthropology:
As we have discerned above, cultural anthropology concerns itself with the study of cultural differences as
well as the similarities around the world.
On a deeper level the branch of anthropology that deals with the study of specific contemporary cultures
(ethnography) and the more general underlying patterns of human culture derived through cultural
comparisons (ethnology) is called cultural anthropology.
Before cultural anthropologists can examine cultural differences and similarities throughout the world they
must first describe the features of specific cultures in as much detail as possible. These detailed descriptions
(ethnographies) are the result of extensive field studies in which the anthropologists observes, talks to and lives
with the people under study. On the other hand ethnology is the comparative study of contemporary
cultures, wherever they are found. The primary objective of ethnology is to uncover general cultural
principals/rules that govern human behavior.
Areas of Specialization in Cultural Anthropology
I
Urban Anthropology ­ studies impact of urbanization on rural societies and the dynamics of life
within cities
II
Medical Anthropology ­ studies biological and socio-cultural factors that effect health or
prevalence of illness or disease in human societies
III
Educational Anthropology ­ studies processes of learning of both formal education institutions
and informal systems which can use story telling or experiential learning
IV
Economic Anthropology ­ studies how goods and services are produced, distributed and
consumed within different cultural contexts
V
Psychological Anthropology ­ studies relationship between cultures and the psychological
makeup of individuals belonging to them
Holistic and Integrative Approach
Cultural anthropologists consider influences of nature and nurture, across all locations and across different
periods of time.
When various specialties of the discipline are viewed together, they provide a comprehensive view of the
human condition
Common Responses to Cultural Difference:
A
Ethnocentrism ­ a belief that one's own culture is not only the most desirable but also superior to
that of others.
B
Cultural relativism ­ looks at the inherent logic behind different cultures and practices in the
attempt to understand them
Relevance of Cultural Anthropology
Cultural anthropology enhances understanding of differences and prevents oversimplified generalizations. It
increases self-knowledge about our own thinking, values and behavior and helps develop cognitive
complexity through integration (interconnectedness) and differentiation (different aspects of a singular
entity). Cultural anthropology is also useful in facilitating meaningful interaction with other cultures and
sub-cultures.
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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
Useful Terms
Components: parts
Paleontology: specialized branch of physical anthropology that analyses the emergence and subsequent
evolution of human physiology
Variation: degree of difference
Archeology: sub field of anthropology that focuses on the study of pre-historic and historic cultures
through the excavation of material remains.
Contemporary: current
Urban: city based
Ethnocentrism: the practice of viewing the customs of other societies in terms of one's own.
Suggested Readings
Students are advised to read the following chapters to develop a better understanding of the various
principals highlighted in this hand-out:
Chapter 1 in `Cultural Anthropology: An Applied Perspective' by Ferrarro and/or Chapter 13 in `Anthropology' by
Ember and Pergrine
Internet Resources
In addition to reading from the textbook, please visit the following web-pages for this lecture, which
provide useful and interesting information:
How do Anthropologists Work?
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=J1SEC782998
Braches of Anthropology
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=J1SEC782999
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Table of Contents:
  1. WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?:Cultural Anthropology, Internet Resources
  2. THE CONCEPT OF CULTURE AND THE APPLICATION OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
  3. MAJOR THEORIES IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Diffusionism
  4. GROWTH OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY (continued):Post Modernism
  5. METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Comments on Fieldwork
  6. METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (continued):Census Taking
  7. COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD
  8. ECONOMIC ANTHROPOLOGY (continued):THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES
  9. FOCUSING ON LANGUAGE:Languages of the World, Structure of Language
  10. FOCUS ON LANGUAGE (continued):Levels of Complexity, Cultural Emphasis
  11. OBTAINING FOOD IN DIFFERENT CULTURES:Optimal Foraging, Suggested Readings
  12. FOOD AND CULTURE (continued):Food Collectors, Food Production
  13. OBTAINING FOOD IN DIFFERENT CULTURE (continued):Pastoralism, Agriculture
  14. RELEVANCE OF KINSHIP AND DESCENT:Kinship Criteria, Rules of Descent
  15. KINSHIP AND DESCENT (continued):Tracing Descent, Primary Kinship Systems
  16. THE ROLE OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN CULTURE:Economic Aspect of Marriage
  17. ROLE OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN CULTURE (continued):Family Structures
  18. GENDER AND CULTURE:Gender Stratification, Suggested Readings
  19. GENDER ROLES IN CULTURE (continued):Women Employment, Feminization of Poverty
  20. STRATIFICATION AND CULTURE:Social Ranking, Dimensions of Inequality
  21. THEORIES OF STRATIFICATION (continued):The Functionalists, Conflict Theorists
  22. CULTURE AND CHANGE:Inventions, Diffusion, Donor, Conventional
  23. CULTURE AND CHANGE (continued):Cultural Interrelations, Reaction to Change
  24. CULTURE AND CHANGE (continued):Planned Change, Globalization
  25. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION:Bands, Tribal Organizations, Chiefdoms
  26. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (continued):State Systems, Nation-States
  27. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (continued):Social Norms, Informal Mechanisms
  28. PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE:Emotional Development, Psychological Universals
  29. PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE (continued):Origin of Customs, Personality Types
  30. IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE:Ideology in Everyday Life, Hegemony
  31. IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE (Continued):Political ideologies, Economic Ideology
  32. ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES:Variation in Associations, Age Sets
  33. ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES (continued):Formation of Associations
  34. RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE:Similarity in Human Adaptations
  35. RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE (continued):Inter-group Relations
  36. CULTURE AND BELIEFS:Social Function of Religion, Politics and Beliefs
  37. LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE:Changing Definitions of Local Knowledge
  38. LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (continued):The Need for Caution
  39. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT:Influence of Development Notions
  40. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Continued):Contentions in Development
  41. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Continued):Operational
  42. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART:Relevance of Art, Art and Politics
  43. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART (continued):Art as a Status Symbol
  44. ETHICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY:Ethical Condemnation, Orientalism
  45. RELEVANCE OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Ensuring Cultural Survival