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