What is Anthropology?What is Anthropology?

BUT FIRST….THE BABIES!!! BUT FIRST….THE BABIES!!!

AnthropologyAnthropologyWhat is Anthropology?What is Anthropology? The word anthropology itself tells the The word anthropology itself tells the basic story--from the Greek anthropos basic story--from the Greek anthropos ("human") and logia ("study")("human") and logia ("study") Anthropology is the broad study of Anthropology is the broad study of humankind around the world and humankind around the world and throughout time. throughout time.  It is concerned with both the biological It is concerned with both the biological and the cultural aspects of humans. and the cultural aspects of humans. 

INTUITION and INTUITION and CURIOUSITYCURIOUSITY

– Intuition is believing something to Intuition is believing something to be true because a person’s be true because a person’s emotions and logic support itemotions and logic support it

– Intuition is not proof of fact – this is Intuition is not proof of fact – this is why we need anthropologists – they why we need anthropologists – they prove or disprove what we BELIEVE prove or disprove what we BELIEVE to be trueto be true

INTUITION and CURIOUSITYINTUITION and CURIOUSITY

Curiosity. -- we all "do" anthropology because it is rooted in a universal human trait: curiosity. --we are curious about ourselves and about other people, the living as well as the dead, here and around the globe. -- We all ask anthropological questions.

Anthropological QuestionsAnthropological Questions•* Do all societies have marriage customs?* Do all societies have marriage customs?•* Are human beings innately violent or peaceful?* Are human beings innately violent or peaceful?•* Did the earliest humans have light or dark skins?* Did the earliest humans have light or dark skins?•* When did people first begin speaking a language?* When did people first begin speaking a language?•* How related are humans, monkeys and * How related are humans, monkeys and chimpanzees?chimpanzees?•* Is Homo sapiens's brain still evolving?* Is Homo sapiens's brain still evolving?

COMPARATIVE METHODCOMPARATIVE METHOD

•Anthropology begins with a simple Anthropology begins with a simple idea: any detail of our behavior can idea: any detail of our behavior can be understood better when it is be understood better when it is seen compared against a full range seen compared against a full range of human behavior. This, the of human behavior. This, the comparative methodcomparative method, attempts to , attempts to explain similarities and differences explain similarities and differences among people in the context of among people in the context of humanity as a whole. humanity as a whole.

Anthropology: Main Anthropology: Main Subdivisions: Subdivisions: Physical AnthropologyPhysical Anthropology• Mechanisms of biological evolution, genetic inheritance, human Mechanisms of biological evolution, genetic inheritance, human

adaptability and variation, primatology, and the fossil record of adaptability and variation, primatology, and the fossil record of human evolutionhuman evolution

Cultural AnthropologyCultural Anthropology• Culture, ethnocentrism, cultural aspects of language and Culture, ethnocentrism, cultural aspects of language and

communication, subsistence and other economic patterns, kinship, communication, subsistence and other economic patterns, kinship, sex and marriage, socialization, social control, political organization, sex and marriage, socialization, social control, political organization, class, ethnicity, gender, religion, and culture changeclass, ethnicity, gender, religion, and culture change

ArchaeologyArchaeology• Prehistory and early history of cultures around the world; major trends Prehistory and early history of cultures around the world; major trends

in cultural evolution; and techniques for finding, excavating, dating, in cultural evolution; and techniques for finding, excavating, dating, and analyzing material remains of past societiesand analyzing material remains of past societies

Linguistic AnthropologyLinguistic Anthropology• The human communication process focusing on the importance of The human communication process focusing on the importance of

socio-cultural influences; nonverbal communication; and the socio-cultural influences; nonverbal communication; and the structure, function, and history of languages, dialects, pidgins, and structure, function, and history of languages, dialects, pidgins, and creolescreoles

Why Study Why Study Anthropology?Anthropology?

• to analyse and understand diverse cultures and societies of to analyse and understand diverse cultures and societies of the contemporary world.the contemporary world.

• to critically and holistically examine perspectives and to critically and holistically examine perspectives and relationships with people from different societies, cultures, relationships with people from different societies, cultures, sub-cultures, etc.sub-cultures, etc.

• to give students a better understanding of cultural changes to give students a better understanding of cultural changes and intercultural relations in the context of phenomena such and intercultural relations in the context of phenomena such as globalization, migration, multiculturalism, and technological as globalization, migration, multiculturalism, and technological change. change.

• to focus on solutions to social, political, economic, and to focus on solutions to social, political, economic, and environmental problems. Anthropologists provide important environmental problems. Anthropologists provide important input in the fields of international development, conflict input in the fields of international development, conflict resolution, resource management, health care, etc. resolution, resource management, health care, etc.

• to promote the unique character of ethnographic research, the to promote the unique character of ethnographic research, the long-term, detailed study of a society. long-term, detailed study of a society.

Examples of career Examples of career opportunitiesopportunities

• AnthropologistAnthropologist• Program Analyst for immigration policies, international Program Analyst for immigration policies, international

development, environmental protection, cultural heritage development, environmental protection, cultural heritage and education programs, etc.and education programs, etc.

• Public Policy AdviserPublic Policy Adviser• International Development OfficerInternational Development Officer• ConsultantConsultant• Academic Researcher Academic Researcher • Researcher for media productions, organizational Researcher for media productions, organizational

publications, etc.publications, etc.• Community development adviserCommunity development adviser• Immigration OfficerImmigration Officer

Examples of career Examples of career opportunitiesopportunities

• Human Relations OfficerHuman Relations Officer• Media CoordinatorMedia Coordinator• DiplomatDiplomat• Museum researcher and program development officerMuseum researcher and program development officer• Public Relations SpecialistPublic Relations Specialist• Conflict negotiator or advisorConflict negotiator or advisor• Ethics Advisor (e.g. healthcare issues)Ethics Advisor (e.g. healthcare issues)• TeacherTeacher• Research officer or negotiator for Aboriginal communitiesResearch officer or negotiator for Aboriginal communities• Advertising or marketing advisorAdvertising or marketing advisor