CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY

  1. Derived from Greek word anthropos= man
  2. Ology=study of
  3. Definition=holistic, scientific study of humankind, both past & present
  1. Whole-understand the interrelationship between all parts.
  2. Broad-virtually everything associated with human is included in anthropology

Ex: politics, religion, marriage, art, language, skin color, blood types, diseases, etc.

TRADITIONAL 4 SUB-DISCIPLINES

  1. PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY=BIOLOGICAL ANTHRO
  • Main focus – humans as biological organisms
  1. Interests/Fields
  1. Evolution=physical/genetic changes over time
  2. Paleoanthropology=study of fossils
  1. Nonhuman primates
  1. Group of mammals
  2. Are human primates?

Yes.

  1. Apes, monkeys
  2. Why study them?
  3. Genetically closest
  4. Similarities & differences
  5. Window into our past
  1. Forensic anthropology=examination of skeletal material for legal i.d.
  1. ARCHAEOLOGY
  1. Main goal-reconstruct past life styles of a people

How? Through analysis of their material remains = artifacts-Ex: pottery, monuments, utensils, jewelry.

  1. Study garbage=

Garbology

  1. Why study? Reflects a lot about life styles.
  2. Father of=William Rathje
  3. Everywhere people have been
  1. LINGUISTICS
  1. Study of languages
  1. Written & oral

Why study?

  1. Language argued to be most striking cultural feature of humans
  2. Reflects culture
  1. What’s important- large array of terms. Ex: Nuer (Sudan, Africa)

Cattle – 400 terms

  1. Communicate
  1. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
  1. Main focus-human behavior
  2. Learned (not inherited) - socially transmitted
  1. Learn social norms-what’s acceptable &appropriate
  1. Foods

Ex: pony in Tonga

Ex: Kaluli (New Guinea) – semen w/ginger & salt.

Why? Increases likelihood of learning another language (spoken by neighboring tribes) = promotes learning.

  1. Some behaviors learned consciously

Ex: Say please and thank you.

Sitting properly

  • Some Arabic countries-rude to sit w/legs crossed at knee to show soles of shoes or socks.
  • Thai nightclub in L.A.
  1. Other behaviors learned unconsciously/subtly.

a. Use of space = proxemics

  • Developed by Edward T. Hall
  • Elevator proxemics
  1. Some behaviors learned as a combination of consciously & unconsciously

Ex: ladies in the shower

  1. Emphasizes cross-cultural=comparative approach
  1. Examines similarities & differences in all peoples & cultures.

a.Preliterate through technologically advanced societies.

  • What would anthropologists study about U.S. people?

Gangs, prostitutes,middle class, Native Americans, drug use,etc.

b.In all aspects – ex: economics

  • $$-Money=form of wealth in U.S.
  • Is money only form of wealth?

No—cattle, pigs,yams, shells, etc.

c.Complete view & understanding of the human condition.

  1. APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
  1. Recently, another sub-discipline included.
  2. Uses knowledge & methods of other 4 traditional sub-disciplines to apply to solve practical problems and address current issues.

Ex: how to provide excellent health care to a multi-ethnic U.S. population

  1. Wrap of Intro to Anthropology
  1. Cell of anthropology
  1. Theory= set of validated hypotheses that systematically explains relationship between certain variables or phenomena.
  2. Goal in cultural anthropology is to generate theories—about??

Human behavior

  1. Characteristics of anthropology
  1. Scientific in method
  2. Global in scope
  3. Holistic in perspective
  1. How does Cultural Anthro differ from Sociology?
  1. Who do sociologists mainly study—from where and when?
  2. Which other sub-discipline do sociologists exclude?