you’ve seen these listed in the week 1 “presentations”
TRANSCRIPT
Main
Characteristics of
Anthropology
Peoples and Cultures of Europe
Tim Roufs© 2010-2014
You’ve seen these listed in the Week 1 “Presentations” . . .
You’ve seen these listed in the Week 1 “Presentations” . . .
Let’s have a closer look . . .
1. the four fields of general anthropology
2. culture as a primary concept
3. comparative method as major approach
4. holism as a primary theoretical goal
5. fieldwork as a primary research technique
Main Characteristics of Anthropology
1. the four fields of general anthropology
2. culture as a primary concept
3. comparative method as major approach
4. holism as a primary theoretical goal
5. fieldwork as a primary research technique
Main Characteristics of Anthropology
American Anthropology
•cultural / social
•physical
•archaeology
•linguistics
You’ve already seen the fourfold approach of American Anthropology . . .
•cultural / social
•physical
•archaeology
•linguistics
So . . . we’re going to have a look at the . . .
Peoples and Cultures of Europe
and their . . .
And you’ll see these fields with your term project . . .
1. the four fields of general anthropology
2.culture as a primary concept3. comparative method as major approach
4. holism as a primary theoretical goal
5. fieldwork as a primary research technique
Main Characteristics of Anthropology
• “culture” is
– learned– shared– transmitted from generation to
generation– based on symbols– integrated
Main Characteristics
• “culture”
– learned– shared– transmitted from generation to
generation
–based on symbols– integrated
Main Characteristics
some focus on the idea that it involves
“shared understanding”
• “culture”• is not inherited
(i.e., is not biological)
• is not “instinct”
Main Characteristics
• “cultures”• are groups of people sharing
a common heritage (and usually a common language)
Main Characteristics
• “cultures”
• are “integrated”-- an idea that was pioneered and
emphasized by the “pioneer” anthropologist Ruth Benedict
Main Characteristics
Ruth Fulton Benedict 1887-1948
Patterns of Culture1934
Ruth Fulton Benedict 1887-1948
Patterns of Culture1934
• “cultures”• are integrated• Interact and change
– the idea that some cultures (like “hunting and gathering” cultures, or the Amish) do not change is not correct
Main Characteristics
The Concept of Culture
• Microculture
– are smaller groups with distinct pattern of learned and shared behavior and thinking found within larger cultures such as ethnic groups in localized regions
– some people like to think of these as “local cultures”
The Concept of Culture
• Microculture
– are smaller groups with distinct pattern of learned and shared behavior and thinking found within larger cultures such as ethnic groups in localized regions
– some people like to think of these as
“local cultures”
• microcultures can include ethnic groups within nations–e.g., Greek-Americans– e.g., Anishinabe (Chippewa; Ojibwa)– e.g., Irish “Travellers”
• sometimes incorrectly called “Gypsies”– e.g., Australian Aboriginals– e.g., Cajun– e.g., Rom (Gypsies)– e.g., Basques– e.g., Kurds
The Concept of Culture
• microcultures can include ethnic groups within nations–e.g., Greek-Americans– e.g., Anishinabe (Chippewa; Ojibwa)– e.g., Irish “Travellers”
• sometimes incorrectly called “Gypsies”– e.g., Australian Aboriginals– e.g., Cajun– e.g., Rom (Gypsies)– e.g., Basques– e.g., Kurds
The Concept of Culture
local groups generally strive to preserve their
cultural identity
The Concept of Culture
• microcultures can include ethnic groups within nations
– e.g., Anishinabe (Chippewa; Ojibwa)– e.g., Irish “Travellers”
• sometimes incorrectly called “Gypsies”–e.g., Rom (Gypsies)–e.g., Basques– e.g., Kurds– e.g., Australian Aboriginals
local groups generally strive to preserve their cultural identity with . . .
languagefood
religionclothing
cultural symbols
• microcultures can include ethnic groups within nations
–e.g., Greek-Americans– e.g., Anishinabe (Chippewa; Ojibwa)– e.g., Irish “Travellers”
• sometimes incorrectly called “Gypsies”– e.g., Australian Aboriginals– e.g., Cajun– e.g., Rom (Gypsies)– e.g., Basques– e.g., Kurds
The Concept of Culture
The Concept of Culture
• Microculture
A Taste of Greece22nd Annual Food Festival 2014
A Taste of Greece22nd Annual Food Festival 2014
A Taste of Greece22nd Annual Food Festival 2014
The “Zorba” begins with a low sweeping motion.
Eva Sevastiades, 19, Megan Solem, 15, and Tess Sevastiades, 15,
start to dance.
(Photo by Patra Sevastiades)
A Taste of Greece22nd Annual Food Festival 2014Dima Sevastiades, Styli
Regas and Demetri Bush wear their dance
costumes for the Taste of Greece.
(Photo by Patra Sevastiades)
“Greek Coffee”
• microcultures can include ethnic groups within nations–e.g., Greek-Americans– e.g., Anishinabe (Chippewa; Ojibwa)– e.g., Irish “Travellers”
• sometimes incorrectly called “Gypsies”– e.g., Australian Aboriginals– e.g., Cajun– e.g., Rom (Gypsies)– e.g., Basques– e.g., Kurds
The Concept of Culture
www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=73293§ion=homepage
www.worldlicenceplates.com/usa/US_MNXX.html
You can probably see signs of this in your area . . .
• microcultures can include ethnic groups within nations
– e.g., Anishinabe (Chippewa; Ojibwa)– e.g., Irish “Travellers”
• sometimes incorrectly called “Gypsies”– e.g., Rom (Gypsies)– e.g., Basques– e.g., Kurds
The Concept of Culture
The Irish Tinkers: The Urbanization of an Itinerant People
by George Gmelch
1985
Compare . . .
• Microculture– a distinct pattern of learned and shared
behavior and thinking found within larger cultures such as ethnic groups in localized regions
– local cultures
The Concept of Culture
• Macroculture a distinct pattern of learned and shared
behavior and thinking that crosses local boundaries, such as transnational culture and global culture
• macrocultures can include groups across nations
– e.g., Basques
– e.g., Rom (Gypsies)
– e.g., ? Al Qaeda
The Concept of Culture
. . . sometimes a people can be either
a microculture or a macroculture,
depending on how it is viewed . . .…
• microcultures can include ethnic groups within nations
– e.g., Anishinabe (Chippewa; Ojibwa)– e.g., Irish “Travellers”
• sometimes incorrectly called “Gypsies”
–e.g., Rom (Gypsies)– e.g., Basques– e.g., Kurds
The Concept of Culture
http://www.serpukhov.su/museum/yarosh_e.htm
Gypsy Woman . 1886Nikolai Yaroshenko. 1846 - 1898. Russia .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Roma boy in bear costume, part of entertainer team
for working Christmas crowds. Budapest
www.romaniworld.com/gal41.htm
Sándor Buffo RigóTata Gypsy Band
Budapest Gypsy Orchestra
• microcultures can include ethnic groups within nations
– e.g., Anishinabe (Chippewa; Ojibwa)– e.g., Irish “Travellers”
• sometimes incorrectly called “Gypsies”– e.g., Rom (Gypsies)
–e.g., Basques– e.g., Kurds
The Concept of Culture
• macrocultures can include groups across nations
– e.g., Basques
– e.g., Rom (Gypsies)
– e.g., ? Al Qaeda
The Concept of Culture
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3635/index.html#title
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32744903@N00/2396901250
Plaça Catalunya
Barcelona
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3635/index.html#title
Sami reindeer herder in Sweden23 October 2005
.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people
A Sami (Lapp) family in Norway between 1890(1890) and 1900.
• macrocultures can include groups across nations
– e.g., Basques
– e.g., Rom (Gypsies)
– e.g., ? Al Qaeda
The Concept of Culture
• microcultures can include ethnic groups within nations
– Aztec– Maya– Zapata– Mixtec– Otomi– Tarascan– Yaqui– Tarahumara . . .
The Concept of Culture
contemporaryand
prehistoric
1. the four fields of general anthropology
2. culture as a primary concept
3.comparative method as major approachdevelopment and structure
4. holism as a primary theoretical goal
5. fieldwork as a primary research technique
Main Characteristics of Anthropology
• comparative method
– as a major approach to the study of human behavior
– the comparative method compares things
Main Characteristics
Compare . . .
• comparative method– One form of comparative method was pioneered by Fred Eggan
(University of Chicago)
“Social anthropology and the method of controlled comparison”
American Anthropologist, 56:743-61 (1954)
Main Characteristics
Compare . . .
• comparative method– One form of comparative method was pioneered by Fred Eggan
(University of Chicago)
“Social anthropology and the method of controlled comparison”
American Anthropologist, 56:743-61 (1954)
Main Characteristics
Compare . . .
• comparative method– Other methods . . .
compare things regionally
in an attempt to understand process
Main Characteristics
Compare . . .
• comparative method– Other methods . . .
compare things regionally
in an attempt to understand process
Main Characteristics
Compare . . .
processessentially refers to how things change
or
how things came to be the way they are now
• the comparative method compares things
for e.g. . . .
Main CharacteristicsCompare . . .
for e.g., we’re going to compare three Greek villages . . .
• Kypseli
• Vasilika
• Peter Loizos’ village in Crete
and . . .
• Karporfora (Stan Aschenbrenner)
• Thessalonikia (Salonika)
• Duluth, Minnesota
• Villages in the Republic of Ireland (the textbook, Nan)
• Villages in Italy (A Crisis of Births, by Krause)
and . . .
• Inish Óirr, in the Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland
• Gyönk, and other villlages in Hungary
• Italy
and . . .
and items like “culture bound syndromes” are compared with
similar phenomena that are thought
to be “universal” . . . .
Main CharacteristicsCompare . . .
• comparative method– Other methods . . .
compare things regionally
in an attempt to understand process
Main Characteristics
Compare . . .
• the comparative method compares things, for e.g., process of domestication / civilization
maize – Mexico
wheat – Turkey
rice – China
manioc – Brazil
millet – Africa
Main CharacteristicsCompare . . .
• the comparative method compares things, for e.g., process of domestication / civilization
maize – Mexico
wheat – Turkey
rice – China
manioc – Brazil
millet – Africa
Main CharacteristicsCompare . . .
• the comparative method compares things, for e.g., process of domestication / civilization
maize – Mexico
wheat – Turkey
rice – China
manioc – Brazil
millet – Africa
Main CharacteristicsCompare . . .
• the comparative method compares things, for e.g., process of domestication / civilization
maize – Mexico
wheat – Turkey
rice – China
manioc – Brazil
millet – Africa
Main CharacteristicsCompare . . .
Origin of Domestication for Selected Plants
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th Ed., p. 342.
rice
7,000 ybp
manioc
4,200 ybp
maize
4,200 ybp
wheat
10,500 ybp
millet
4,000 ybp
Compare . . .
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th Ed., p. 333.
Time line for Ch. 14 Food Production
Neolithic
Chapter 14
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th Ed.
“Food Production”
A Biocultural Revolution
• Early Neolithic sites
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th Ed., p. 349.
Compare . . .
The Neolithic Revolution=
The Agriculture Revolution
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th Ed., p. 333.
Time line for Ch. 14 Food Production
Neolithic
MehrgarhOne of the earliest Neolithic settlements of southern Asia, Pakistan
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th Ed., p. 352.
Compare . . .
1. the four fields of general anthropology
2. culture as a primary concept
3. comparative method as major approach
4.holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
5. fieldwork as a primary research technique
Main Characteristics of Anthropology
American Anthropology
•cultural / social
•physical (bio-physical)
•archaeology
•linguistics
Holism tries to put all of the pieces together . . .
let’s have a look at that on the
“Anthropology and . . . Its
Parts” chart . . .
NOTE: Usually anthropologists read
charts from the bottom up
That has to do with the fact that in archaeology the oldest layers are
at the bottom of a site and the newer ones are on top
•cultural / social
•physical
•archaeology
•linguistics
So . . . we’re going to have a look at the . . .
Peoples and Cultures of Europe
and their . . .
NOTE:
There are four levels . . .
(REM: read from the bottom up)
HOLISMInvolves all four levels
and allof the physical and cultural
components combined
holism
holismholism
Anthropology
. . . and the two main divisionsof Anthropology are
bio-physical and cultural . . .
Anthropology
Bio-physical
Anthropology
Socio-cultural Bio-physical
. . . biophysical involvesthings like . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_intolerance
Europeans are some of the few peoples of the world that can drink
milk without getting sick
. . . but ultimately anthropologists seek to study phenomena in terms of both physical and cultural aspects
. . .
. . . but ultimately anthropologists seek to study phenomena in terms of both physical and cultural aspects
. . .
. . . as well as other aspects, for e.g., the psychological
. . .
www.eatingdisorderfoundation.org/EatingDisorders.htm
“Eating Disorders are about feelings, not food.”The Eating Disorder Foundation
. . . and that ultimately involves lots of subdisciplines
. . .
holismholism
physical
measuring
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
body
size /
shape,
. . .
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
body
size /
shape,
. . .
body
structure /
function
DNA,
. . .
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
body
size /
shape,
. . .
body
structure /
function
DNA,
. . .
prehistoric
cultures
. . .
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
body
size /
shape,
. . .
body
structure /
function
DNA,
. . .
prehistoric
cultures
. . .
industrial-
age
. . .
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
body
size /
shape,
. . .
body
structure /
function
DNA,
. . .
prehistoric
cultures
. . .
industrial-
age
. . .
art /
literature,
museums
. . .
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
body
size /
shape,
. . .
body
structure /
function
DNA,
. . .
prehistoric
cultures
. . .
industrial-
age
. . .
art /
literature,
museums
. . .
kinship,
economics,
religion,
politics . . .
. . .
. . .
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
body
size /
shape,
. . .
body
structure /
function
DNA,
. . .
prehistoric
cultures
. . .
industrial-
age
. . .
art /
literature,
museums
. . .
kinship,
economics,
religion,
politics . . .
. . .
. . .
structural
and
historic
linguistics
. . .
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
body
size /
shape,
. . .
body
structure /
function
DNA,
. . .
prehistoric
cultures
. . .
industrial-
age
. . .
art /
literature,
museums
. . .
kinship,
economics,
religion,
politics . . .
. . .
. . .
structural
and
historic
linguistics
. . .
Bio-physical
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
body
size /
shape,
. . .
body
structure /
function
DNA,
. . .
prehistoric
cultures
. . .
industrial-
age
. . .
art /
literature,
museums
. . .
kinship,
economics,
religion,
politics . . .
. . .
. . .
structural
and
historic
linguistics
. . .
Bio-physical Cultural|
physical
measuring
excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
body
size /
shape,
. . .
body
structure /
function
DNA,
. . .
prehistoric
cultures
. . .
industrial-
age
. . .
art /
literature,
museums
. . .
kinship,
economics,
religion,
politics . . .
. . .
. . .
structural
and
historic
linguistics
. . .
Bio-physical Cultural|
Anthropology
physical
measuring
Cultural
Anthropology
body
size /
shape,
. . .
body
structure /
function
DNA,
. . .
art /
literature,
museums
. . .
kinship,
economics,
religion,
politics . . .
. . .
. . .
structural
and
historic
linguistics
. . . excavation,preservation,
reconstruction . . .
participant /
observation
prehistoric
cultures
. . .
industrial-
age
. . .
Bio-physical
Our Main Emphasis in Anthropology of Europe
In some ways this chart business is all about
Theorybut key theory that is important to
the understanding of the Anthropology of Europe
holismtheory
holismtheoryincluding
results of
interdisciplinary study,
esp. with history, art history, political science, sociology, business and
economics . . .
1. the four fields of general anthropology
2. culture as a primary concept
3. comparative method as major approach
4. holism as a primary theoretical goal
5.fieldwork as a primary research technique -- involving “participant observation”
Main Characteristics of Anthropology
Note two terms in the “major characteristics of
anthropology” listing . . .
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary researchtechnique, involving “participant observation”
Main Characteristics
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary researchtechnique, involving “participant observation”
Main Characteristics
what’s the difference?
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary research
technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information
Main Characteristics
= tool
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary research
technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information
Main Characteristics
= tool
data gathering technique —
participant observation
(fieldwork)
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary research
technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information
Main Characteristics
= tool
Anthropologists use other tools . . . like questionnaires, interview schedules,
psychological tests, documentary filming . . . but “participant observation”
is a characteristic technique use by anthropologists, especially cultural
anthropologists (ethnologists)
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary research
technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information
Main Characteristics
= tool
Anthropologists use other tools . . . like questionnaires, interview schedules,
psychological tests, documentary filming . . . but “participant observation”
is a characteristic technique use by anthropologists, especially cultural
anthropologists (ethnologists)NOTE:
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary research
technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information
Main Characteristics
= tool
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary research
technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information
Main Characteristics
= approach
= tool
how you use information
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary research
technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information
Main Characteristics
= tool
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary research
technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information
Main Characteristics
= tool
other tools include
things like . . .
1. culture as a primary concept
2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior
3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal
4. fieldwork as a primary research
technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information
Main Characteristics
= tool
• questionnaires
• interview schedules
• videotaping
• using “unobtrusive measures”
after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp. 401-405
Anthropologists often like to use a research “technique”
based on “unobtrusive measures” . . .
(either in the field or elsewhere)
“unobtrusive measures”
• analysis of data available
• supply data analysis• (production + imported - exported)• (goods available for consumption)
• composition analysis . . .
• analysis of video and photographic materials
• analysis of cultural artifacts
But most of all (generally)Anthropologists
LOVE . . .
1. the four fields of general anthropology
2. culture as a primary concept
3. comparative method as major approach
4. holism as a primary theoretical goal
5.fieldwork as a primary research technique --
involving “participant observation”
Main Characteristics of Anthropology
And as I mentioned in the “An Important Note on Videos and
Visual Anthropology” notewe would LOVE to take you along with us around the world, but the next best thing we can do is bring
the world to you in the form of films and videos. And we’ll do a
lot of that . . .
